Inlander 03/10/2022

MARCH 10-16, 2022 | TRACKING THE TRENDS SINCE 1993

SPOKANE GETS ODD 20

MAGIC MUSHROOMS 25

PLEASING PANDA 28

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EDITOR’S NOTE

877.871.6772 | SPOKANE, WA

R

esidents of the Inland Northwest didn’t need the recent New York Times feature story (“The Next Affordable City is Already Too Expensive”) to tell us we’re in the midst of an utterly insane, often devastating housing crisis.

Spiking rents, soaring house prices, the end of the pandemic-related eviction moratorium and rising inflation are among the many factors stressing our little corner of the world. The Inlander’s news team has always covered housing-related issues with a particularly keen eye toward our neighbors facing the harshest challenges and how local municipalities are working to help. With this issue we’re launching an ongoing series, OUT OF REACH, in which we’ll explore the housing crisis from every angle imaginable. We start with some stories of individuals navigating the market in 2022, from renters to landlords and beyond (page 12).

Also this week, we visit the Spokane Civic Theatre as it readies Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite — its first show in its small studio theater since COVID struck (page 22) — meet some Medical Lake mushroom farmers (page 25), and suggest some seasonal sounds for anyone celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, starting with Spokane’s own parade this Saturday (page 31). Sláinte!

— DAN NAILEN, editor

DRY TIMES PAGE 8

MARRIAGE STORIES PAGE 22

CANCER HASN’T STOPPED AND NEITHER WILL WE. Community Cancer Fund works collaboratively with existing regional cancer organizations to identify and fund gaps in services provided to cancer patients. We are committed to investing donated funds in local programs that benefit cancer patients, their families, and the Inland Northwest organizations that serve them.

Join our fight against cancer across the Inland Northwest at: CommunityCancerFund.org

What We Do:

You Should Know:

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Accepting donations now! Call us or visit our website for more details.

ST. PADDY’S PLAYLIST PAGE 31

CAMERA READY

HAPPENING THIS WEEK PAGE 34

INLANDER

SPOKANE • EASTERN WASHINGTON • NORTH IDAHO • INLANDER.COM

1227 WEST SUMMIT PARKWAY, SPOKANE, WA 99201 PHONE: 509-325-0634 | EMAIL: INFO@INLANDER.COM THE INLANDER is a locally owned, independent newspaper founded on Oct. 20, 1993. It’s printed on newsprint that is at least 50 percent recycled; please recycle THE INLANDER after you’re done with it. One copy free per person per week; extra copies are $1 each (call x226). For ADVERTISING information, email advertising@inlander.com. To have a SUBSCRIPTION mailed to you, call x210 ($50 per year). To find one of our more than 1,000 NEWSRACKS where you can pick up a paper free every Thursday, call x226 or email frankd@inlander.com. THE INLANDER is a member of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. All contents of this newspaper are protected by United States copyright law. © 2022, Inland Publications, Inc.

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MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 3

SPOKANE VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA

SPOKANE VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA

SHINEDOWN: THE REVOLUTION’S LIVE TOUR Friday, April 1 Spokane Arena

4 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

SANTANA: BLESSINGS AND MIRACLES TOUR Sunday, April 3 Spokane Arena

GABRIEL “FLUFFY” IGLESIAS: BACK ON TOUR Thursday, April 7 Spokane Arena

COMMENT STAFF DIRECTORY PHONE: 509-325-0634 Ted S. McGregor Jr. (tedm@inlander.com)

HOW SHOULD WE FIX THE HOUSING CRISIS?

DAVID BOWERS: Limit Airbnb rentals and do the opposite of Seattle until their policies are proven effective.

PUBLISHER

Jer McGregor (x224)

GENERAL MANAGER

EDITORIAL Dan Nailen (x239)

TAMMI BULLOCK: Stop building luxury housing and incentivize developers to engage in more affordable housing developments and apartments, condos.

EDITOR

Chey Scott (x225)

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Derek Harrison (x248) CREATIVE DIRECTOR Samantha Wohlfeil (x234) BREAKING NEWS EDITOR

TIMOTHY KEARNEY II: Maybe rehab them on Tiny House Nation!

Daniel Walters (x263)

SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

Seth Sommerfeld (x250) MUSIC EDITOR

Carrie Scozzaro (x232) STAFF WRITER

Chris Frisella

COPY CHIEF

Young Kwak, Erick Doxey PHOTOGRAPHERS

Madison Pearson

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

One reader suggests looking at Vienna’s public housing structure for a solution.

GERI GADDY: Change our laws so companies aren’t buying up half the housing. Then invest in affordable housing and updating zoning — at least that’s my understanding.

BEN WILLIAMSON: Seize all homes owned by investment firms and sell them back to the people.

Alyssa Hughes, Jami Nelson INTERNS

Amy Alkon, Josh Bell, Jim Frank, Chase Hutchinson, E.J. Iannelli, Will Maupin, Nate Sanford CONTRIBUTORS

ADVERTISING Kristi Gotzian (x215) ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carolyn Padgham (x214) SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Adrianne Haunert (x216), Jeanne Inman (x235), Tracy Menasco (x260), Autumn Adrian Potts (x251), Claire Price (x217), Wanda Tashoff (x222)

Spokane String Quartet 3 P. M . S U N DAY MARCH 20 Bing Crosby Theater

Music by Higdon Haydn Smetana w w w. s p o k a n e s t r i n g q u a r t e t . o r g

TAYLOR BRAYMAN CLARK: Rent control.

CAYA BERNDT: The solution to housing problems is, and always will be, more housing. Fix the zoning laws, invest in affordable multiunit housing, repurpose empty buildings downtown, rent control, and address the rampant NIMBYism among some members of the City Council.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Kristina Smith (x223) MARKETING DIRECTOR Jess Kennedy (x212) ADVERTISING & MARKETING COORDINATOR McKenna Fuhrman (x242) ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Houston Tilley (x247)

DIGITAL SALES & EVENTS COORDINATOR

PRODUCTION Tom Stover (x265) PRODUCTION MANAGER Ali Blackwood (x228) CREATIVE LEAD & MARKETING MANAGER Derrick King (x238) SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Todd Goodner (x231) GRAPHIC DESIGNER

OPERATIONS Dee Ann Cook (x211) BUSINESS MANAGER Kristin Wagner (x210) ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

CIRCULATION Frank DeCaro (x226) CIRCULATION MANAGER Travis Beck (x237) CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR

SEAN MICHAEL FOSTER: Vienna’s council housing is such a great example.

SARA BOREN: Building affordable housing is one side of the coin.

Strengthening the middle class so more people can buy homes is the other. So intelligent and fair tax laws AND a living wage, plus fixing the zoning laws in Spokane so we can build affordable houses.

DARCY HILDEBRAND: One area that needs to be addressed is to have those who benefited from the gentrification of the downtown business district (developers, landlords, business owners, New Urbanists) pay for the housing and sheltering of the homeless people they unhoused by turning the hotels and apartments that previously housed them into upscale apartments for the upper middle income and above residents.

I know I didn’t do it, and I know I didn’t benefit from it, like most of the residents of Spokane. n

MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 5

HOME OF THE SPOKANE SYMPHONY

THE FOX THEATER WHITWORTH WIND SYMPHONY: WIND CURRENTS 2022 with special guests Lewis & Clark High School Wind Ensemble & Ferris High School Wind Ensemble Mon., March 14, 7:30pm Free Admission Spokane Symphony

CARMINA BURANA

James Lowe, conductor • Dawn Wolski, soprano Aaron Agulay, baritone • Christopher Pfund, tenor Spokane Symphony Chorale Sat., March 19, 8pm Spokane Youth Symphony

REJOICE IN ARTISTRY Sun., March 20, 4pm

JULIA SWEENEY: OLDER AND WIDER – LIVE TAPING Sat., March 26, 4pm and 8pm Presented by DDA

THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA Wed., March 30, 7pm

#IMOMSOHARD: THE GETAWAY TOUR Sun., April 3, 7pm

Presented by Whitworth University Music Department

MARIA SCHNEIDER WITH THE WITHWORTH JAZZ ENSEMBLE Sat., April 9, 8pm Fox Presents

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE: THE FILM & A CONVERSATION WITH THE STARS! Sat., April 16, 7:30pm

Spokane Symphony Masterworks 7

1001 NIGHTS

Saturday, April 23 at 8pm • Sunday, April 24 at 3pm James Lowe, conductor • Inon Barnatan, piano

MULTICARE HEART STRINGS Friday, April 29th, 2022 at 8pm

KIP MOORE – HOW HIGH TOUR Saturday, April 30th, 2022 at 8pm

THE FILM AND A CONVERSATION WITH JON HEDER “NAPOLEON” and EFREN RAMIREZ “PEDRO”

APRIL 16 7:30pm

COMMENT | HOUSING

Priced Out of Your Own Hometown Spokane’s lack of affordable housing has now made national headlines; the way out starts with modernizing its outdated zoning codes

BY JIM FRANK

I

f you have lived for any period of time in Eastern Washington or North Idaho, you know that we live in a wonderful place. Like me, you’ve probably wondered when the rest of the world would find our hidden jewels. We just never imagined it would be the New York Times, when it recently highlighted Spokane under the headline “The Next Affordable City Is Already Too Expensive.” Attainable housing was perhaps the most precious of those jewels and what set us apart from most large cities in the West.

Over the past 10 years, we’ve taken housing affordability for granted. We thought it was a staple that we would never lose. In 2010, the median home price was about $160,000 — and we were worried about it going down. Of course we were going to be discovered.

As the growth in the region started to escalate, the first signs of price increases were welcomed as a sign the economy had finally turned the corner following the Great Recession.

The trickle of growth turned into a stream, then surged into a COVID migration-swollen river.

The regional growth rate is now well over 2 percent a year, while the median home price is nearly $400,000. This rapid price escalation is a result of our complacency and a failure to build enough housing to accommodate our population.

T

he mayor of Spokane has now declared a “housing crisis,” but it’s not a crisis for everyone. If you own a home, you’ve seen its value increase rapidly. A 2,000-squarefoot home on the South Hill that a family bought for $250,000 several years ago is now worth $800,000.

But the windfall profits that benefit existing homeowners come at a cost. The price is paid by the young family that cannot find a home they can afford, and by the family that was displaced when the rent increased by $400 per month.

The housing “crisis” has exacerbated housing inequality and is taking a heavy toll on families across the region. We all know someone who is resigned to the reality that they may never own a home.

Greenstone Homes founder Jim Frank. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO Fox Presents

Box Office 624-1200

SpokaneSymphony.org • FoxTheaterSpokane.org Chec k websit e for COVID-19 Safety Prot ocols

6 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

Our growth over the past 10 year has transformed where we build new housing. Ten years ago, the city of Spokane accounted for more than 40 percent of the new home construction in the region. Today it accounts for less than 15 percent.

This is largely due to a decreasing supply of raw land, along with a development code that systematically discourages infill development.

Growth has migrated at an increasing pace to outlying unincorporated areas, and to small cities in Spokane and Kootenai counties. It should be alarming to Spokane that more than 50 percent of new housing construction is occurring in Kootenai County. Post Falls is growing at a rate of 4 percent annually. The impact of this shift in growth patterns will have significant impacts on tax base, traffic and sprawl. Once these growth patterns take hold, they are very difficult to reverse.

Understanding what is happening is the easy part. Addressing the problem is far more complex. We need to allow a wide variety of housing types in every neighborhood. When you look around Spokane, what you see are single family homes on large lots, along with large multifamily projects. There is virtually nothing in between.

I’m often asked, why do we not have small patio homes? Why are there no condominiums and townhomes? Why do we need to build so many large apartment projects? The answer to all of these questions is that home builders and

developers build what development codes permit.

The Spokane development code makes it very difficult to build anything but large homes on large lots and restricts all multifamily development to segregated high-density zoning districts.

People love Kendall Yards and the wide variety of housing, all integrated on a single street and neighborhood. The mayor has said she wants more development like Kendall Yards. If that’s what you want, then you need a development code that both allows and encourages it. We spent the last decade with innumerable “infill housing committees” and “housing action plans” but no significant regulatory change.

The result is Spokane’s declining housing market share and skyrocketing home prices.

O

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utside of the city of Spokane, there is reason for some optimism. Spokane County reformed its housing regulations for low-density residential zones and now permits townhomes and small multifamily buildings alongside single family homes. The county also has a very well thought out “MixedUse” zone that encourages walkable neighborhoods. Liberty Lake has what it calls a “Specific Area Plan” process that allows a developer to establish flexible development standards over a controlled area. This has been successfully used allowing a wide range of housing products in a single neighborhood.

We cannot accept being a community where housing is too expensive for the families living here. How we build neighborhoods and regulate housing has to change in ways that encourage infill. Regardless of economic status, families need to be welcomed into all of our neighborhoods. Families have the right to attainable housing and to be able to choose where they live. The barriers to attainable housing and economically diverse neighborhoods need to be removed. n Jim Frank is the founder of Greenstone Homes, which has been building homes since 1980, including in mixed-use developments like Kendall Yards and Liberty Lake’s River District.

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MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 7

BRIEFS

ANOTHER DRY YEAR The Pacific Northwest faces drought again; also, Matt Shea’s former seatmate vies to oversee county elections; and Catholic Charities set to open new housing for homeless families

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL AND DANIEL WALTERS

N

early 75 percent of the Pacific Northwest is already in drought, and central Oregon and southern Idaho are likely to face some of the driest conditions in the region this year. Extreme drought is possible in parts of the Northwest, as various places have seen the record-low rainfall in recent years. Those dry conditions could also increase wildfire risk this summer.

In Oregon, most reservoirs are 10 percent to 30 percent lower than they were at this time last year, when conditions curtailed irrigation water supplies, according to scientists who track water and weather.

Without unexpectedly heavy rainfall this spring, parts of Idaho will likely remain in drought as well, with the potential to see near-record lows.

“We expect southern Idaho to continue in drought,” said David Hoekema with the Idaho Department of Water Resources during a media call to discuss drought in the region last week.

Meanwhile, Washington appears to be in somewhat better shape. Snowpack on average was 133 percent of normal

Smoke from Pacific Northwest wildfires caused recordbreaking hazardous air quality in 2020. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

in January, but the average had dropped to 89 percent of normal by the start of March, said Karin Bumbaco, assistant state climatologist for Washington.

Impacts to dryland agriculture in areas like the Palouse could continue, with lower rainfall than normal for those crops that rely solely on the water nature provides.

Still, there’s no indication Washington will see as warm and dry of a spring as it did last year, said Nick Bond, Washington’s state climatologist. Importantly, record-setting heat domes like the one that killed dozens of people across the region last June are not expected to be the new “normal” just yet.

“I would be astonished if we had anything of that severity this year,” Bond said. (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)

AUDITOR BOB?

State Rep. Bob McCaslin Jr has frequently flown under the radar compared to his former seatmate in Washington’s 4th Legislative District, Matt Shea. But the kindergarten teacher-turned-right-wing legislator has often been on the same ideological page as Shea — even continuing

to co-sponsor a new version of Shea’s signature bill attempting to turn Eastern Washington into its own state.

However, this year McCaslin isn’t running for reelection to the Washington House. He’s running for county auditor against longtime incumbent Vicky Dalton.

“People who work in the auditor’s office, I want them to love to come to work,” McCaslin tells the Inlander in a brief interview. “I want them to love their jobs. A good leader could do that.”

On his website, McCaslin stresses his commitment to using taxpayer money wisely and to providing transparency. “Elections observers should be welcomed, as well as frequent audits of all County departments,” he writes.

In many states, relatively obscure county election officials have become the subject of the spotlight, as former President Donald Trump and gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp made baseless claims about voter fraud after losing their elections. Culp unsuccessfully attempted to sue Dalton and other county auditors because of his objections to the election. ...continued on page 10

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MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 9

NEWS | BRIEFS

The new Gonzaga Family Haven

COURTESY OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES

“AUDITOR BOB?,” CONTINUED...

Asked if McCaslin had concerns about election integrity, the state representative said he had no idea — he would need to be in the auditor’s office to know either way.

“I don’t have any proof of wrongdoing at this point,” McCaslin says. “I’ve never said publicly that there were serious problems in the auditor’s office.”

Dalton says that state law doesn’t give the auditor a choice on whether to certify the election.

“If there are any issues, you need to get them resolved prior to that deadline to certify,” Dalton says.

Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson says Washington’s state law has enough checks and balances that she’s not all that worried that an

WE BRING

POWDER. V

YOU BRING FRIENDS.

P

ideologue could somehow hijack elections. She’s much more concerned about whether an auditor is a competent administrator. That’s why, last year, Anderson unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the Pierce County Council to vote to make the auditor an appointed position instead of an elected position.

Dalton stresses the sheer breadth of her role, which involves also overseeing everything from vendor payments to licenses — both marital and vehicular — to obscenely complicated motor home title transfers.

“I love what I do,” Dalton says. “I love what my offices provide to the community. I just want to make sure that the Spokane area continues to receive excellent service.” (DANIEL WALTERS)

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HOPE FOR MORE HOMELESS FAMILIES

Catholic Charities Eastern Washington will open Gonzaga Family Haven permanent supportive housing for 73 families later this month, in partnership with Gonzaga University, Gonzaga Preparatory School and St. Aloysius Parish.

“Families and most importantly, children need a roof over their heads at night before they can think about anything else,” Catholic Charities President and CEO Rob McCann says in a news release.

“Gonzaga Family Haven will not only help families stabilize their lives but will give them options for a brighter future.”

The facility will provide wrap-around services for residents, including case management, connection with medical resources, substance abuse counseling, personal health and wellness classes, adult education, employment readiness, nutrition courses and more.

Students from both Gonzaga and G-Prep will volunteer to help out at the haven.

“Gonzaga University believes in the purpose and power of community, and we are excited to become a part of the Gonzaga Family Haven community,” Gonzaga University President Thayne McCulloh says in the announcement. “We are lookLETTERS ing forward to offering many Send comments to of our successful community editor@inlander.com. engagement programs at the Family Haven. These servicelearning opportunities, integral to the Jesuit educational model, are strategic and long-term commitments. We believe the Family Haven partnership holds the potential for Spokane to establish a national model of community-driven change.”

The new homes at 975 E. North Foothills Drive will be celebrated with a grand opening and blessing from 11 am to 1 pm on March 30. Parking will be limited and you can RSVP at cceasternwa.org/ghf. (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL) n

ST. PADDY’S DAY

Our

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MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 11

12 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

How Spokane — and America — cranked its simmering housing mess into a raging boil

H No major city in Washington was as bad at adding housing the past decade as Spokane. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

BY DANIEL WALTERS

ow does a cute little town like Spokane — once famous for its low cost of living — have a spike in housing prices and rental costs sharp enough to make it the star of a New York Times story about our ridiculous spike in rents and housing costs?

Why did the typical rent on Zillow shoot up by over $200 in just a nine-month span last year? How did housing prices climb by 60 percent in just two years?

How did we come to have only one apartment unit available for every 200 apartments in the market?

At its core, the answer is mind-numbingly basic.

Economics 101: too much demand, not enough supply.

We have significantly more families in Spokane than we have homes. We don’t have enough housing to rent, we don’t have enough housing to buy. It’s a local housing crisis stacked on top of a national housing crisis, boosted by a global recession and then injected with a worldwide pandemic.

With this package of stories, the Inlander is launching “Out of Reach,” a new housing series that investigates why finding a home, or even an affordable rental, has increasingly become out of reach for those in our region — and what we can do about it.

To start with, here’s a quick primer about how we got here.

T

he roots of the housing crisis have been growing for a century. As early as the 1920s, Spokane, like most cities, established “single-family zones” where it was illegal to even build a duplex.

As Spokane grew, it favored the suburbs: It demolished its streetcar system, and plopped an interstate highway through its city center’s poor, minority neighborhoods. Fewer houses were spread over a wider space.

Washington state passed a law to crack down on sprawl in the 1990s, only allowing closely built developments in and around the cities. It was supposed to drive dense development inside cities like Spokane.

Instead, Spokane stagnated.

After all, truly dense development was illegal in most of the city. Your plot of land can’t be too small, your yard has to be at least so big, you have to offer so much parking, you can’t build too high or too close to the street.

Spokane could rezone, but why would they?

Neighbors — the kind who already had homes, the kinds who attend neighborhood council meetings, the kind who vote — wouldn’t have it. They worried densely packed housing brings traffic, noise and crime. They offered vague complaints about “neighborhood character” and less vague concerns that their neighborhood would be ruined by those people, you know the kind I mean.

Renters.

I

n 2008, a different kind of housing crisis hit: America had, in some places, built too many single-family homes — or, at least, built them too big and too pricey. Bad Wall Street bets on the housing market tanked the entire worldwide economy, and the construction industry with it. Vast numbers of contractors and carpenters fled the industry. Construction got slower. Financing got tougher.

As it emerged from the recession, Spokane became a destination for those pushed out by increasingly expensive cities on the West Coast. Our population began increasing much faster than expected.

By 2017, alarms were blaring: Spokane hardly had any empty apartments available and rents were climbing. But other than some small changes to zoning policies and some additional multifamily housing incentives, Spokane’s leadership didn’t scramble to address the building emergency.

Spokane Mayor David Condon launched a campaign to recruit more people to the area, bragging about what kind of amazing house you could get in Spokane compared to Seattle. Spokane City Council members kept regularly opposing zoning changes for proposed housing developments — each, surely, for carefully considered reasons, like traffic levels and neighborhood opposition.

The sprawl Spokane tried to avoid happened anyway — it just happened across the border. Kootenai County’s housing market exploded.

And then, the second international crisis hit: COVID-19. Lockdowns temporarily froze the construction industry. A backlog piled up. Outbreaks, COVID safety restrictions, and sudden jolts in demand choked supply lines of materials. Building became more time-consuming and more expensive.

Washington state’s eviction moratorium protected some low-income tenants from being booted out into homelessness, but it also paralyzed the rental market and spurred some frustrated landlords to sell their rentals.

Meanwhile, for those in bigger, more expensive cities like Portland and Seattle, the chance to work from home meant they could, theoretically, work from any home. So why not Spokane?

At the same time, potential homeowners — including millennials who’d delayed home shopping ever since the Great Recession crippled potential salaries — benefited from stimulus checks, higher unemployment payments and deferred entertainment expenses. They had a pile of savings. Maybe even enough for a down payment. Rent increases meant renting was becoming less and less affordable. Inflation meant interest rates were bound to spike. Now was the obvious time to buy a home.

Both new buyers and work-from-home outsiders flooded into our housing market at the same time.

Spokane gots its wish. Suddenly, everyone wanted to live in Spokane. The only problem was Spokane never bothered to build them a place to live. n

“Out of Reach” is the Inlander’s new occasional series investigating why finding a home, or even an affordable rental, has increasingly become out of reach in the Inland Northwest — and what we can do about it.

Follow the series at inlander.com/housing.

MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 13

The Long Search for Stability Qualified for a housing voucher? Good luck finding somewhere to rent

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

O

ne night during the late February Arctic cold snap, Deborah Cooper-Anderson found herself shuffling through the snow as fast as she could with her walker. But by the time she could step up on the curb, she says the bus she was headed toward — the last one of the night — drove away.

Suddenly, the 64-year-old was faced with the scary reality that she might be stuck outside in single-digit weather for the night.

For many homeless people, missing a bus or missing the window of time when shelters accept people for the night can mean just that: spending a night on the streets.

Luckily, Cooper-Anderson says she was able to call the safe house she’s staying at with other domestic violence survivors, and they offered to send someone to get her.

All told, it’s been about five years since Cooper-Anderson was in a stable housing situation.

At that time, she was living in a Spokane Valley house she could afford with the help of a Section 8 housing choice voucher from the federal government. The

14 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

People like Deborah Cooper-Anderson know that having a housing voucher doesn’t guarantee you can get housed. voucher required that she pay a third of her $900-permonth income (which comes from Social Security disability) toward rent, with the voucher covering the remainder of the monthly cost.

She lived there for two years, but then her landlord said they needed the house back so a relative with medical issues could move in.

Initially, Cooper-Anderson says she wasn’t worried about finding another place. But she quickly found that, even five years ago, it was hard to find a vacant rental that fit her budget — even with the voucher.

During her last few months in the house, not only did she have to find storage for her belongings and search for a new place to live, but she says her mother died in Seattle and she had to go take care of her burial.

Then time ran out. She kept looking, but ultimately she lost the voucher and became homeless.

“I bought three vehicles with the money I got from the death benefit,” Cooper-Anderson says, noting the vehicles barely ran. “I parked them in different places so I’d never be stuck without a roof over my head.”

Over the next four-and-a-half years or so, she’d spend time living in and out of those cars, staying with boyfriends and friends, staying in homeless shelters, and trying to survive on the street.

She says she suffered medical issues, including multiple strokes, but she continued looking for options.

So when the Spokane Housing Authority announced it would release another 200-plus vouchers a few months ago, Cooper-Anderson was on top of it.

She told her housing counselor at Hope House about the new vouchers and set to work getting a new social security card and gathering the necessary information.

Luckily, she was able to secure a voucher.

But just because the government says it will help you pay the rent doesn’t mean a landlord will rent to you.

W

hile landlords are not legally allowed to discriminate based on where someone’s income comes from, it definitely happens, explains Zoe Hjelm, a diversion specialist with SNAP’s homeless services team.

“Unfortunately, there’s a stigma attached to folks who have vouchers,” Hjelm says. “If they want to take legal recourse, we have to prove the landlord is saying no because of vouchers … a lot of folks don’t want to pursue

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that. It’s time consuming, and they just want to get into housing.”

The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently authorized the Spokane Housing Authority to offer landlord incentives, such as $500 to $1,000, just for agreeing to rent to someone with a voucher. Other ideas include offering small repair grants, additional security deposits and more. But those incentives likely won’t start being offered until 2023, according to housing authority staff.

In the meantime, applying for openings can be hard for people like Cooper-Anderson who don’t have computers and struggle to repeatedly get help paying $45 background check fees with applications.

Cooper-Anderson says she recently applied for a downtown apartment and continues looking for listings with a bathtub, as soaking helps with pain from her medical issues and keeps her mobile.

“I worked hard to get my voucher, and I’ve been out there for a long time trying to beat the streets and find a place. I mean, I’ve walked miles,” Cooper-Anderson says. “I’m on the phone all the time; I check every day. It just… it wears on you.”

F

or much of her life, Cooper-Anderson says she worked as a caregiver, first for her brother who was quadriplegic, and later for other clients with disabilities and her grandfather. But years ago she broke her back, and after trying to keep jobs for several more years, she says she finally realized she wouldn’t be able to work anymore.

“I did everything right. I worked all my life — I raised kids,” Cooper-Anderson says. “I’ve worked harder being homeless than I ever have taking care of people all my life. … I’m scared all the time. I don’t know which way to go to get another place.”

Around New Year’s, before she secured a spot in the safe house, Cooper-Anderson says she checked out of Hope House and went to see what the emergency warming shelter at the Spokane Convention Center was like for the night.

“Because I wanted to know how far off I was from being really homeless, I guess,” she says. “At any moment we can be back out there.”

She’s still working to find housing. n

JUSTIN JAMES SHERFEY INVESTOR/FLIPPER WHEN HE WAS 19 and going to school at Eastern Washington University, Justin James Sherfey listened to a lot of podcasts about the housing market.

Real estate offered the appeal of financial freedom and the ability to take time off when you want, so he decided to jump right into the business of renovating homes and reselling them.

Through family who work in real estate and construction and his own research, he learned how to find potential “contract flips,” where he’d locate a property, help negotiate a deal and pass the baton to an investor who could fix it up.

The type of properties he looked for had often become untenable for owners to keep up. Some people fell into pre-foreclosure status after missing payments.

Other properties suffered damage from tenants, and the owner wasn’t able to afford repairs. In other cases

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still, people inherited property they couldn’t maintain or clean up (say, if it had been hoarded).

Now 23, Sherfey chips in with partners to purchase properties to fix and sell, or rent out.

“Over the last couple years post-COVID [arriving], inventory has shot down to alltime lows,” Sherfey says. “The housing market is just crazy.”

He knows house flippers sometimes get a bad rap, but he hopes people know he and his partners work with owners and whoever is living in a home to help them find a solution to their situation. They never kick people out without a place to go.

“We’re really trying to do right by people in the situations they’re in. We know we’re not a fit for 99 percent of sellers out there, and we realize that,” Sherfey says. “But if we’re able to help someone not have a bankruptcy or foreclosure on their record, we’re going to pursue it.”

— SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

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KEITH KELLEY LANDLORD KEITH KELLEY SAYS he was the only landlord on the city of Spokane’s affordable housing committee. And he says he kept getting the same kinds of comments: “Keith, if you go out of business, your family’s going to be just fine.”

And in one sense, that’s true.

“I’ll adapt and find other work,” Kelley says. “My family will be fine. But what happens to the roughly 75 people that I provide affordable housing to?”

That was the crux of the tension with Washington state’s eviction moratorium last year. Of course protecting low-income tenants from becoming homeless is more compelling than a landlord’s bottom line. But if you make it so miserable that landlords don’t want to be in the low-income rental business, you’ll have fewer available homes to rent, and the rent will be pricier because of it. Drive out decent landlords, he argues, and all you’ll be left with will be the bad ones.

“The policy environment has created a host of unintended consequences,” Kelley says. “I don’t think anyone intends to make life absolutely miserable for our marginalized communities.”

He says challenges he faced

dealing with dangerous and destructive tenants during the eviction moratorium — and the spate of new laws intended to protect tenants — is pushing him out of the business.

He’s already sold most of his shared single-room occupancy rental houses, and he’s planning on selling his multifamily properties as well, though he hasn’t made a final decision yet.

In his case, he’s been trying to make sure to find buyers who will continue to offer them as affordable rentals. But that’s not been the case for every landlord. He says he knows of another landlord in West Central who’s converting five of his rentals into Airbnb-style short-term rentals. That risks making Spokane’s affordable housing crisis worse.

Kelley isn’t sure about what he’s going to do next. He says he thought about investing in other cities but says he didn’t get into this business just to make money.

“I am passionate about Spokane; I’m passionate about affordable housing,” Kelley says. “[But] I can’t live out my passion and get beat up all the time.”

— DANIEL WALTERS

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MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 15

Zoom Boom

Spokane appealed to many remote workers like Chris Pick, who moved here last year from Seattle. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Climate, cost and quiet: why so many remote workers are moving to Spokane

BY NATE SANFORD

F

or Chris Pick, the freedom to work anywhere has been a game-changer.

Pick moved to Spokane in June after the Seattlebased dating app company he works for announced a permanent switch to remote work. He doesn’t have to commute anymore, but even if he did, a well-timed flight from Spokane might actually beat his previous commute — an hour-and-a-half journey from Bainbridge Island involving a bus, ferry and walk through downtown Seattle.

“Now I get three hours back of my day,” Pick says.

“Fifteen hours a week, that’s like two full workdays I get back to myself and family.”

Spokane is one of dozens of midsize American cities experiencing what some have referred to as a “Zoom boom” — an influx of workers from major tech hubs like Seattle and San Francisco moving to smaller cities to work remotely.

Many cities have welcomed the money that remote workers bring, but the income disparity has also led to concerns about rising home prices and a local population unable to compete with buyers bringing six-figure salaries.

Other than a bumper sticker that says “Go back to California,” Pick says he hasn’t encountered any hostility or resentment over his status as a transplant. Spokane is an incredibly welcoming city, he says. It’s part of what drew him here in the first place.

“Pretty much everyone we’ve met seems to be genuinely nice,” Pick says. “People have been real friendly.”

16 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

P

ick didn’t expect to end up in Spokane. After his work went remote, he and his wife first tried looking for houses in Dallas, where Pick has family members.

But after a few months, a combination of traffic, taxes and family drama convinced them to look elsewhere.

Their next plan was Vancouver, Washington. But while scrolling through Zillow, Pick noticed a cluster of houses in Spokane that seemed to match everything they were looking for. Pick and his wife didn’t know much about Spokane and had never been to the area, but they were intrigued. They decided to visit and quickly fell in love with the vibrant seasons, affordability and lack of “hustle and bustle,” Pick says.

In June, Pick and his wife bought a house on the outskirts of Spokane, just off South Park Road. It’s a short drive from downtown, but still has the rural feel and acreage that Pick was looking for when he left the Seattle area.

Spokane’s housing market is fiercely competitive, but much of the competition is concentrated around smaller, midrange houses. By opting to spend more on a larger house, Pick and his wife were able to avoid much of the competition. Pick says they were only able to afford the more expensive option because of money from selling their Bainbridge Island house, which more than doubled in value since they purchased it in 2014.

Pick says he’s conscious of people’s concerns about rising home prices. He doesn’t have a perfect solution —

no one does — but he does think the city could consider offering tax abatements to the owners of vacant office buildings if they convert them into low-income housing.

E

ven though his main employer is based elsewhere, Pick says he and other recently arrived remote workers still contribute to the economy in other ways. As more tech workers spread out to rural areas, Pick predicts that many of them will collaborate and start small businesses. Pick has already worked on a few local startups of his own.

“Before you know it, you’ve got a business starting here that’s paying taxes here,” Pick says. “So from that standpoint, it’s kind of one of the benefits.”

The influx of remote workers has also been beneficial for co-working spaces in the Spokane area.

Ann Long, who started Burbity Workspaces with her husband in 2019, estimates that half of her clients are recent arrivals in Spokane. Long also thinks the rise in remote work will translate to more small local businesses in the future.

“Coworking not only is a great way to meet other small business owners and like-minded people, it’s an inexpensive way for you to establish your presence,” Long says.

It’s not just Zoom fatigue that’s driving some remote workers to coworking spaces. Some of Long’s clients seek out coworking spaces because they lack reliable internet at home. Wireless connections can be spotty in the rural parts of Spokane.

More than half a year after moving, Pick says his favorite thing about Spokane so far is the people. His least favorite thing might be the potholes, or getting stuck waiting for a train to pass. But for transplants like Pick who are used to battling Seattle gridlock, waiting for the occasional train to pass is a small price to pay.

“I know a lot of locals think the traffic’s horrible around here, but I mean, compared to almost everywhere else, this is pretty good,” Pick says. n

2022-2023 SEASON TICKETS

MARCY MARTIN REALTOR MARCY MARTIN NEVER THOUGHT the Spokane housing market would get this crazy.

Martin has been working as a Realtor in Spokane for around 15 years. Over the course of the pandemic, she’s watched as a rise in remote work and buyers from major cities across the country transformed Spokane’s real estate market.

“It’s pretty stunning growth,” Martin says.

“Two years ago you definitely had a lot more wiggle room.”

The market has become especially tough for first-time homebuyers aiming for houses in the $300,000 range. The market is competitive, and cash offers are increasingly common, Martin

says. For first-time buyers, moving quickly is key.

“We have to get in the house that day if it comes on the market,” Martin says.

Martin doesn’t see the Spokane market slowing down anytime soon.

More people are realizing their jobs can be done from anywhere, and even with prices skyrocketing, Spokane is still a cheap alternative to cities like Portland and Seattle. One of Martin’s clients was able to buy a 7,000-square-foot home in Spokane using cash from the sale of his home in Los Angeles — a 400-square-foot property (picture a two-car garage) that went for just over a million dollars.

— NATE SANFORD

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ZOE HJELM DIVERSION SPECIALIST IN HER WORK AT SNAP (Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners), Zoe Hjelm is familiar with how difficult it is to help people get off the street and into housing.

Through “coordinated entry” applications, social service agencies in Spokane first rank the many difficulties people face (mental health, addiction, medical issues, etc.) to figure out if they qualify for help.

For those with fewer struggles, rapid rehousing is an option. If they can find an apartment, there’s money to cover early costs and the first few months of rent so people can move in, start working and take over payments on their own.

For those with higher needs, there’s permanent supportive housing operated by a provider such as Catholic Charities. Those apartments are meant to build the skills and rental history needed to later move to other housing options.

But the system has been overwhelmed in recent years, both as the number of vacancies in Spokane has plummeted and the number of high-needs people has increased, Hjelm says. Some higher-needs people would actually qualify for

assisted living, but many don’t want to go that route, she says.

“What we have noticed is kind of a twofold problem: The folks that are coming through coordinated entry are higher acuity, with mental health, substance use issues, evictions, domestic violence, a plethora of issues, right?” Hjelm says.

“And then there’s a very, very limited number of apartments.”

If someone can even find an open rental to apply for, when they have no job, no credit, and maybe an eviction or felony on their record, landlords don’t even consider renting to them, even if they’ve got income to cover the rent, Hjelm says.

“It’s just heartbreaking really. … They come to our door and think we have apartments we can just put people in … [then] they find out this is on them, and you see that look of defeat,” Hjelm says. “There’s less than a 0.4 percent vacancy rate.

Even if everybody had the money, we wouldn’t have enough places to go.”

— SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

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LT. ARIANA WILKINSON RENTER BACK AS AN ROTC STUDENT at Texas State University, Air Force Lt. Ariana Wilkinson never had a problem finding an apartment to rent. So when she was sent to Fairchild Air Force Base, Wilkinson had no idea how difficult a problem simply finding a place to live would be.

Wilkinson had tried checking apartment listings only a couple times and assumed that things would open up when Gonzaga students left for the summer.

Instead, by the time she got her active duty orders in July 2021, the apartment hunt was a nightmare.

“I realized that availability was really, really, slim,” says Wilkinson, a public affairs officer at Fairchild.

“This was one of the first big obstacles I had.”

FOR NEARLY A MONTH she searched, staying in hotels like the Hampton Inn as she scrambled to find a spot.

“I think I honestly applied to about 25 or 30 different apartments,” Wilkinson says. “Spokane Valley, Spokane, Airway Heights, north side, South Hill, all locations.”

And she wasn’t the only one.

Fairchild Air Force Base is a massive economic engine, generating over $520 million in economic impact a year in Spokane. But even their best efforts to find housing for their airmen faced serious obstacles last summer.

“It was really frustrating. You’d lose sleep over it,” says Jack Farver, who works in Fairchild’s Housing Referral Office. “We started driving anywhere and everywhere, looking for rentals that wouldn’t be advertised, looking for duplexes or new apartment complexes.”

They’d get ahold of the property managers and keep checking in: When might there be a vacancy?

Things are slightly better now, but still pretty rough.

In Wilkinson’s case, she ended up finding a townhouse condo. It was about timing. Within 30 minutes of a vacancy opening, she called the landlord, told her all about her situation, and said she was new to the area. The landlord seemed to understand.

“I was able to secure a condo on the South Hill,” Wilkinson says.

— DANIEL WALTERS

18 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

American Treadmill

Anastacia Howell knows how the “American Dream” can feel so close, yet remain out of reach.

Anastacia Howell’s family was on a path out of poverty — but a rent hike has them running in place

BY DANIEL WALTERS

T

he American Dream offers you a basic deal: Even if you’re just barely clinging on, if you work hard enough and long enough, you’ll eventually be able to begin climbing the ladder toward the middle class, toward owning a home or a business.

But when Spokane resident Anastacia Howell and her family began climbing the ladder, the ladder started sinking. No sooner had her husband found a new job, one that paid a lot better, than her family’s rent shot up by 50 percent.

“When already so much of your money and your income is going toward just having a place to have a roof over your head, it’s just frustrating,” Howell says. “Pointless.”

H

owell was pushing her husband to find a new job for a long time. His security job meant he had to work nights. He was getting minimum wage. He wasn’t getting any benefits.

“He had to drive all over Spokane, to 50 different locations, just to kick out homeless people that already have nowhere to go,” Howell says. “Excuse my language. I hated his f---ing job … It’s a job that forces you to dehumanize people at their lowest point.”

Because she’s been at that point. Twice.

“Homelessness is not something I’m unfamiliar with,” Howell says.

She was 17, sleeping under the bridges in Riverfront Park, when she and her boyfriend didn’t have a friend’s couch to crash on. She was 8, spending months with her mom in a Salvation Army shelter, cooped up in a cramped room with a bunk bed and no walls. Her mom was hoping to qualify for a SNAP program to

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

pay for the medical bills for her little brother.

On the one hand, she had extremely strong feelings about her husband working a job kicking out people like her. On the other hand, his job was a necessity.

“You have to make sure your family is, you know, sheltered, safe and maintained,” she says.

And she and her husband had done that. They had a place to live. First, they’d lived in her mother-in-law’s garage. Then there’d been the repurposed storage room when the garage grew too cold.

Then the studio apartment with the strange layout they got when their new baby made her mother-in-law’s house too crowded.

Eventually, they landed at a three-bedroom apartment in Hillyard for only $800 a month.

And then, six months ago, she says, her husband finally snagged a new job — working customer service for a dental insurance company. Not only were they a “baseline-decent” employer, Howell says, they paid about $2 more an hour than her husband got working security. They celebrated by going to a movie for the first time in years.

“We were hopeful that we could actually build up a savings, so that we’re not always peering over the edge,” Howell says.

“Because we’re one crisis away from going over.”

W

hen you’re no longer teetering on the edge, you can start looking toward the horizon. You start thinking about what you could do with your savings.

“Get a better car,” Howell says. “Get one of us into schooling so that we could have a bit of upward momentum or even start saving up for a house.”

She knows saving up for that downpayment for a house could take them a decade or longer.

“But you know: something,” she says. “A goal to strive for.”

That hope lasted about a month and a half. Then the rent increase hit. Her landlord sold her apartment to a larger company, and rumors flitted around the apartment complex. The only question was how much the increase would be.

The notice was taped to their door late last year: Their rent was spiking from $800 to $1,200. It effectively wiped away the raise her husband got by switching jobs.

“We inched away from the edge” of poverty, Howell says, “and then we were kind of pushed back.”

She scoffs at Washington state bragging about its high minimum wage when it doesn’t have any kind of rent control.

“I’m going to have to get a job, later on down the line,” Howell says. “I’m going to have to do something drastic to get out of this position in poverty. I’m thinking about joining the Navy.” n

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MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 19

SHOP LOCAL

Little Shop of Oddities

Petunia & Loomis opens downtown, offering antiques and bizarre, macabre items

BY CHEY SCOTT 20 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

F

rom its street-level storefront inside a historic downtown Spokane building, Petunia & Loomis simultaneously projects an aura of nostalgia — and mystery.

Everything inside the shop, from floor to ceiling, catches the eye: a tabletop display of vintage and antique glassware intermixed with sepia photographs of unknown subjects and clothbound books; a midcentury era children’s toy stroller stuffed with antique porcelain dolls; the soulless stares of taxidermied animals; colorful retro-style posters high upon the walls.

It simultaneously evokes an eerie, Victorian mansion from its original, wood-paneled walls and architectural columns, and a rural roadside “museum” of weird displays — or even a quirky grandmother’s knickknack-filled home.

This aesthetic encapsulates exactly what Petunia & Loomis’ owner Samantha Fetters wants shoppers to feel.

“I have just been saying it’s like the stuff you’d find in The Addams Family house: taxidermy, bones, antiques — things I’ve collected for a long time,” Fetters says. “The thing I like about it is that people are reminded about something their grandmother or a family member had in their house.”

Petunia & Loomis marked its grand opening on Feb.

14, although a soft opening phase lasted for a couple of weeks in January before the birth of Fetters’ now 1-month-old daughter. Also helping run the shop is general manager Jesse McCauley, Fetters’ fiance.

Among the shop’s more unusual artifacts for sale are an embalming machine and jars of wet specimens. The latter are animal remains preserved in jars of alcohol, supplied by a local venture called Freyja’s Forest. Fetters and McCauley explain that all of the animals (mostly domestic species) used for the specimens died of natural causes, and are legally allowed to be sold as display pieces. “[Freyja’s Forest] works with wildlife rescues and farms,” Fetters says, “and their goal is to preserve and honor animals after they pass.”

For its Valentine’s Day grand opening event, Petunia & Loomis had a supply of preserved chicken hearts in small jars that Fetters says sold almost instantly, with customers lining up at the door before the shop opened.

While most of its inventory consists of antique or vintage items, Petunia & Loomis also offers a small selection of new goods, like tarot cards, candles and jewelry.

It’s also exclusively licensed in the region as a retailer of prints and wall hangings from Madame Talbot, an artist based in Oregon who creates pen-and-ink art inspired by antique medicinal labels, advertising and signage.

“I want to be more of a destination, and mostly antiques and oddities with a splash of new stuff,” Fetters says.

Besides the wet specimens, furniture and books have been top sellers so far.

“We go through books really fast — vintage, new, it’s not really any specific books,” Fetters says. “People really want books, and they also say they feel comfortable here, and that there’s not something else like this in Spokane, a place they can come and be accepted.”

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Owner Samantha Fetters and Jesse McCauley are leaning into the wonderfully weird at new store Petunia & Loomis.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

F

etters has been collecting — for lack of a better term — weird, old stuff for more than a decade, with dreams of someday opening a shop to share her passion with fellow appreciators of the curious and creepy.

“When we found this space, it all fell together,” she says.

After signing the lease for the storefront that last housed a local optical shop, her and McCauley’s home began to quickly fill up with boxes and bins of their hand-curated inventory — in spare rooms, lining hallways and packing the garage. Traveling to estate sales, auctions, flea markets and off-the-beaten-path thrift stores has been a long-time hobby for the couple, and is how they found most pieces now in the store.

Fetters acknowledges that the vintage and antique market locally and elsewhere has become pretty saturated, but she hopes to take Petunia & Loomis a step further by catering to what she refers to as the “alternative crowd.”

“When I was growing up, you had Boo Radley’s,” she says.

“Outside of that, there weren’t any destination stores that were odd.”

Petunia & Loomis also holds several tributes to — and pieces created by — Fetters’ late mother, who died in 2020. Three lifesize monsters in the front window were made by her mom and used as festive Halloween decor when Fetters was a kid. Other not-for-sale pieces passed down from her mother include a retro, animatronic fortune teller cabinet, Madame Morbida, and handpainted mobiles of characters from Disney’s Peter Pan hung above a nook of vintage kids’ toys and books.

“Our home looks like this too,” McCauley says. “We bought art for here and brought it in, and Sam was like, ‘Tell me I’m not taking it home and this is going on our wall,’ and I said, ‘It’s going on our wall.’ So she brought it home, and we swapped it out.”

“That’s the kind of fun part,” he continues. “We can find stuff and sell it, or take it home and bring stuff from our house to sell.

It’s an ever-revolving thing.” n Petunia & Loomis • 421 W. Riverside Ave. • Open Wed-Sat 11 am-7 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm • facebook.com/PetuniaLoomis • 509-498-0259

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historicflight.org MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 21

CULTURE | THEATER SPOKANE

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Love and Marriage Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite asks enduring questions about happiness and commitment

BY E.J. IANNELLI

F

or close to four decades, playwright Neil Simon — balding, bulb-nosed, bespectacled — so dominated American theater that he became an unlikely object of desire. In her 2021 memoir Going There, journalist Katie Couric recalled setting out with the express intention of seducing him at a press conference for his 1985 film The Slugger’s Wife.

At the time Simon was approaching 60 and between his second and third marriages; Couric was an aspiring twentysomething reporter. Her seduction ploy worked well enough, by her account,

22 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

although vital parts of his anatomy did not.

By his death in 2018, Simon’s celebrity burned less brightly too. Age and Alzheimer’s disease had curbed his productivity, and his very late-career output had left audiences largely underwhelmed. Even at the height of his popularity, when plays like The Odd Couple (1965), Biloxi Blues (1985) and Lost in Yonkers (1991) were garnering acclaim and awards, critics had wondered if Simon’s traditional views on marriage and family weren’t a little too steeped in the passé mores of his Depression-era childhood.

LCS NORTHWEST'S and follow through with her wedding.

“You think of Neil Simon as situational comedy. Here, Act 1 is the situation, and the rest of the show is the comedy,” says Sarah Dahmen, who plays the roles of Karen and Norma in the Civic’s new production.

While it’s not uncommon for all three acts to feature the same set of actors, director Troy Nickerson, fresh from overseeing Corpus Christi at Stage Left, has distributed the line load a little more evenly. Dahmen appears opposite Thor Edgell, a seasoned actor but new to the local scene, in Acts 1 and 3. The second act features Craig Hirt as Jesse and Lisa Edwards as Muriel.

Edwards also plays Mimsey in the third.

That still leaves the cast of four pulling double or even triple duty. Keeping the characters distinct from act to act is part of the craft as well as the fun, Dahmen says, “whether it’s the physical representation and how they hold themselves, or having different vocal patterns for them.”

“And certainly, the writing helps. Neil Simon’s really good about creating common phrases for the different characters so that you get a different sense of speech patterns that, as an actor, you can wrap your choices around. The content is so different, too, that it’s easy to sink into being a different couple.”

A

Sarah Junette Dahmen plays Norma Hubley in the Civic’s Plaza Suite.

SPOKANE CIVIC THEATRE PHOTO

And yet it’s a testament to something enduring in Simon’s work that his 30-odd plays have never fallen so far out of fashion as to qualify for a proper revival. True, his Plaza Suite (1968), which opens this weekend in the Spokane Civic Theatre’s studio space, will be running contemporaneously with a new Broadway production of the same play starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. But that has more to do with coincidence than anything so grand or trendy as a “rediscovery” of Simon.

P

laza Suite is a theatrical triptych. Act 1 centers on Sam and Karen Nash, who have come to Suite 719 in New York’s Plaza Hotel in a vain attempt to rekindle their marital spark. Act 2, set in the very same room, pairs wolfish Hollywood movie producer Jesse Kiplinger with his old flame Muriel Tate, now a suburban housewife. The third and final act sees Roy and Norma Hubley trying to persuade their daughter Mimsey to leave the suite’s bathroom

lthough the tone of Plaza Suite gets lighter as it goes, with the finale culminating in outright farce, both Dahmen and Edgell say that audiences have a lot to mull over.

“This is not just fluff,” Edgell says. “Ultimately, within the three vignettes, he is trying to show a social problem within relationships, gender roles and marriage. Although each act is different, he’s reaching for one particular theme. Some people have said Simon’s a little dated, but I still think it’s relevant now because it still happens.”

Dahmen agrees, paraphrasing a third-act line: “‘Oh, sure, we curse and we yell, but it doesn’t mean we’re not happy, does it?’ That question is sort of a through line: What makes a happy relationship? Are committed relationships the same as happy relationships? Is making yourself happy really the end goal? Simon asks those questions and helps us laugh along the way, so we’re willing to engage in those deeper questions.”

“It’s entertaining, and it also leaves you with hope,” Edgell says. “In the third act, they’re bickering and fighting, but then they have moments where you realize, ‘Ah, I see, this is just their dance.’ I think it was important for Simon to have it set up that way.”

As Plaza Suite is the first main-season show to take place in the Firth J. Chew Studio since spring 2020, when the pandemic curtailed a successful run of Cabaret, Dahmen says that it’s more than a work by one of the most popular playwrights in American history. It’s also a cause for celebration.

“The thing I’m most excited and honored to be a part of is reopening in this space and feeling that community gather again. It’s been a long time since everyone could be back together again and feel that energy in the room.” n Plaza Suite • March 11-April 3; Thu-Sat at 7:30 pm; Sun at 2 pm • $10-$25 • Firth J. Chew Studio at the Spokane Civic Theatre • 1020 N. Howard St. • spokanecivictheatre.com • 509-325-2507

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MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 23

CULTURE | DIGEST

THE BUZZ BIN

Dare to dive into Demon Slayer.

GIVE ANIME A CHANCE Entering the wide world of anime fandom was intimidating, until I took the leap

BY CHEY SCOTT

M

onths ago, if you’d asked me how many Japanese animated series I’ve seen, my answer would’ve been a big, fat zero.* Ask me today, and the number is quickly growing, all while I continue to reflect upon my hypocritical, illinformed prior judgment.

Here’s the thing: I’m an unabashed nerd, and always have been. But there was just something about anime that I couldn’t overcome, even briefly, to see if I’d enjoy it. I was definitely judging the book by its cover.

Maybe it was the idea of adults watching cutesy, dolleyed cartoon characters (Hello, Disney), or stories about using magical powers and godlike abilities to defeat fantastical monsters (weird, because I adore The Lord of the Rings.) It wasn’t the language barrier (subs > dubs).

As I self-examined more, I realized it was the sheer size of the anime universe, and the enormous hurdle it seemed I’d have to clear to enter, understand and appreciate it. While many classic tropes of anime are so entrenched in pop culture they’ve reached mainstream recognition (and meme-ification), there are also dozens of series/franchises with massive canon stretching back decades, and hundreds — even thousands — of episodes. Not to mention the manga source material, spinoffs, theatrical releases, etc.

It’s kinda like when a friend hounds you to get on board with a major hit TV or book series. For some, that magical discovery phase is unmatched, and made even better when you have someone to discuss it with.

For others, it may be profoundly overwhelming. I often find myself calculating whether to consume or avoid specific media based on the overall investment of time and mental energy.

So, what changed?

My partner, Will, has been a casual anime watcher

for a couple decades. He has many favorites, and occasionally binges through existing series (Hunter x Hunter) or faithfully tunes in each week to a currently airing season (Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen are two recent faves).

Until recently, Will watched these shows alone, while I did something else.

But then we (or rather, he) discovered Laid-Back Camp, a super chill, slice-of-life anime about camping and friendship. That’s literally the premise. Its core characters, a group of high-school girls in a camping club, plan their next adventure, save money for cool gear and cook elaborate meals around the fire. It’s cozy, relaxing and totally tension-free. The characters love nothing more than escaping to nature (even in winter), and the time and care to prepare an amazing meal.

After watching Laid-Back Camp’s two seasons last fall, I was suddenly hooked. So next, I asked Will if he’d rewatch the first season of Demon Slayer so that we could watch the forthcoming second season together.

Same for Attack on Titan, another global anime hit. His reaction was pure joy that we could now share an interest that was once his alone. And I quickly realized what I’d been missing all along.

Beyond the cute, comic book style, sometimes wacky plots and heroic superpowers, anime is really just another vehicle for amazing storytelling. Its form alone doesn’t make it inherently nerdy — in fact, it lets anime push far beyond the limitations of live action in countless ways. And like any form of entertainment, there’s something for everyone: action, romance, drama, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi and everything in between.

So don’t be like me. Give anime a chance to show off its many strengths, and let your pursuit of a great story guide you. n

* OK, I did watch the all-time classic Neon Genesis Evangelion back in 2019 when it came to Netflix. And Studio Ghibli films don’t count.

24 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

TECH BUBBLE As someone who spent a good chunk of 2020 alone in a Seattle apartment during the onset of COVID, I could relate to Angela Childs (Zoë Kravitz), the central character in director Steven Soderbergh’s new tech thriller, KIMI (streaming on HBO Max).

(Though unlike Angela, I lacked a sprawling fantasy apartment.)

When she overhears a crime while doing her job listening to and logging recording errors for a Siri/Alexa-esque tech assistant, the extreme hypochondriac gets caught up in a dangerous web of tech-financed terror. While Kimi doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it checks the thriller entertainment boxes and is one of the better Seattle films in a while. (SETH SOMMERFELD) BETTER OFF DEAD As a big Sopranos fan, I was pretty excited to get the new book by two of the HBO classic’s stars. I didn’t realize, though, that WOKE UP THIS MORNING: THE DEFINITIVE ORAL HISTORY OF THE SOPRANOS is essentially just printed transcripts of Michael Imperioli (Christopher Maltasonti on the show) and Steve Schirripa (Bobby Bacala) from their Talking Sopranos podcast. Upside: lots of juicy memories from the cast and crew, and much love for James Gandolfini (R.I.P.). Downside: lots of dialogue between the “authors” that might be charming on a podcast, but just seems odd in a book. Sopranos obsessives are better served by 2019 book The Sopranos Sessions. (DAN NAILEN) THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online March 11: TANYA TAGAQ, Tongues. The world’s most famous Inuk throat singer returns with another collection of socially charged and boundary-pushing, drone-heavy experimental music.

ALEX CAMERON, Oxy Music. It’s hard to describe exactly, but Alex Cameron has huge David Lynch energy. The Australian alt-pop rocker’s latest LP comes from the perspective of a disillusioned man who turns to opioids.

GHOST, Impera. The theatrical Swedish doom-metal band dusts off its skull face paint and sinister pope hats to deliver another dose of bone-shaking arena rock. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

Chelsea and Rob McFarland went from beekeeping to mushroom farming.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

LOCAL GOODS

Two local beekeepers embark on a journey growing mushrooms as Far Land Fungi

BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

“B

ees are the gateway drug to mushrooms,” says Chelsea McFarland, who lives on Medical Lake acreage she and husband Rob call HoneyLove Homestead.

The comment is a total non sequitur, unless you know that the couple’s startup mushroom business, Far Land Fungi, sprouted from their intense interest in beekeeping.

Roughly 10 years ago, when they were living in Los Angeles pursuing careers in tech and media, the McFarlands became interested in bees. But Los Angeles didn’t allow residents to keep bees, so the McFarlands started HoneyLove, an educational nonprofit, to set about changing public perception.

Various Los Angeles neighborhood councils they dealt with cited fear of getting stung as a barrier to beekeeping, says Chelsea, who’s allergic to bees. Using her own experiences to address people’s fears head-on, she and Rob successfully swayed the city to change its ordinances to allow residential beekeeping.

In 2015, when the couple relocated to Eastern Washington, where Rob grew up, the McFarlands brought with them their honeybee hives and a dream to expand from beekeeping to creating a suburban homestead.

SO FAR, SO GOOD The five acres they own on the shore of Medical Lake allow them to do just that, both indoors and out.

Chickens roam freely, finding shelter underneath a trampoline left on the property by the former owner. A fence secures berry bushes against deer. Nearby, a 50-foot hoop house for a large-scale floral garden is under construction. Next year, the McFarlands plan to transform the front yard into a lavender field — blissful for the bees.

Inside the McFarland’s home, an entirely different crop is in the works: mushrooms.

Currently, Far Land Fungi offers a wide range of mushrooms, which are fungi with plant-like traits such as stems and cell walls. Lion’s mane, golden chestnut, and three types of oysters are relatively easy to grow, as well as fast-growing, Rob says. Oyster mushrooms, for example, take around 10 days to reach maturity.

Rob has also undertaken more challenging varieties, such as golden enoki and shiitake, which can take more than three months to mature and require more steps to achieve a solid harvest. The McFarlands hope to incorporate their turkey tail and reishi mushrooms into medicinal applications like tinctures once the processing kitchen they’re building has been approved by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

R

ob is the driving force behind Far Land Fungi’s growing operations, transforming the home’s daylight basement into mushroom central. He created a HEPA filter-controlled airspace for sterilizing the growing medium (usually sawdust) into which mushroom spores — think of them as baby mushrooms — are injected.

In another area, Rob has installed a zip-up tent with shelves for holding dense bags of mushrooms in various stages of growth known as fruiting. Rob maintains moisture and temperature through a system he designed and is still tinkering with.

“I read a lot,” he says.

He’s taught himself about mushrooms, much like he did about bees. “Mostly I learn by making mistakes,” he admits.

“Mushrooms and bees are great teachers,” Chelsea adds. “They’ll let you know instantly where you’ve done something wrong.”

“I’ve always been fascinated with fungi, specifically how they work with plants and soil microbes symbiotically,” Rob says. “Once I started figuring things out and began to understand how magical mycelium is, growing mushrooms quickly took over my life.” ...continued on next page

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FOOD | LOCAL GOODS “SO FAR, SO GOOD,” CONTINUED...

R

ob’s interest in mushrooms, bees and growing things in general stems from a lifelong interest in nature.

There’s a photograph over a fish tank in the home’s basement — another of Rob’s interests is growing underwater plants — showing a young Rob at Cannon Hill Park pond, specimen net in his hand. His mother had forbidden him to go to the pond, so when a Spokesman-Review photographer who happened to be nearby clicked the shutter, Rob knew he’d have to fess up.

After graduating from Gonzaga Prep, Rob attended Eastern Washington University for political science, but his heart belonged to the wild outdoors. After college, Rob volunteered for the Orangutan Foundation International in Borneo. There he helped map Tanjung Puting National Park, videotaping and documenting habitat loss due to natural and human impacts.

The McFarlands hope to incorporate reishi mushrooms into tinctures.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Chelsea, meanwhile, had been working in Delhi, India, editing cultural dance documentaries. A University of California Santa Cruz graduate with an independent spirit and ebullient personality, Chelsea was all ears when an acquaintance told her about a “tall, crazy editor who had 12 hours of orangutan footage who needed an editor.”

“I was like, ‘You had me at tall,’” Chelsea says, laughing.

While Rob handles the growing operations, Chelsea puts her considerable marketing background to use (when she’s not working in real estate) promoting mushrooms.

It was Chelsea, for example, who reached out to Little Noodle restaurant chef-owner Kadra Evans about incorporating a rotating variety of Far Land mushrooms into its dishes.

Currently, diners can find Far Land mushrooms in Little Noodle’s pho ($12), while Cochinito Taqueria plans to incorporate Far Land mushrooms in select dishes, too.

If all goes according to plan, Far Land Fungi mushrooms should be available at area farmers markets this summer, as well as the farm stand at HoneyLove Homestead. Visit farlandfungi. com for more information. n

“The mission of Women and Children’s Free Restaurant really spoke to my heart.”

- Robyn Galtieri, Vice President of Retail Services

WCFR supports the community through education about healthy eating habits and by providing nutritious meals and groceries. “We saw such an increase in need during COVID, driven by job losses, closed schools, and health setbacks,” Robyn said. “Our mission is more important than ever.”

For Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating women employees at STCU who are doing good in their communities. Read more at stcu.org/womens-history.

Here for good.™

Insured by NCUA.

MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 27

Turning Red is literally and figuratively warm and fuzzy.

ALSO OPENING REVIEW

Panda Power Pixar’s Turning Red is an exuberant blast of chaotic fun

RADHE SHYAM

Love and destiny clash in this Indian romantic epic centered around a famed palm reader. (SS) Not Rated

TYSON’S RUN

An autistic outcast high schooler attempts to run a marathon (and maybe bridge the gap between himself and his distant football coach dad) in this family drama. (SS) Rated PG

BY JOSH BELL

A

dolescence is tough enough without turning into a hideous monster, and movies from Teen Wolf to Ginger Snaps have gotten plenty of mileage out of conflating those two experiences. Pixar’s delightful Turning Red fits firmly into that genre, in its own cute, family-friendly way. Thirteen-year-old Meilin Lee (voiced

by Rosalie Chiang) doesn’t turn into a werewolf as she enters puberty, but she comes close. Thanks to an ancient family legacy, her journey into womanhood is accompanied by the unfortunate side effect of transforming into a giant red panda whenever she experiences heightened emotion.

In that way, she’s more like the Hulk than a werewolf, and her transformations can be similarly destructive. To Mei, the legacy feels more like a curse, especially since she knows nothing about it when she wakes up one day as a huge fluffy panda, like Gregor Samsa discovering he’s become a cockroach. She manages to turn back into her regular self before heading to school, but it doesn’t take much to bring the panda back out. After a rampage through the city, she makes her way home, where her mother, Ming (Sandra Oh), finally gives her the backstory on her animalistic inheritance.

Hundreds of years ago, Mei’s ancestor called on the spirit of the red panda to defend her family from danger,

28 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

and now the women in Mei’s family all come into their ridiculous, adorable things, and Turning Red often exhibits own panda power as they mature. There’s a ritual that the energy of a Looney Tunes cartoon, rather than the more must be performed to trap the panda spirit in an amulet, measured humor of Pixar’s last few efforts. Mei and her and until then all Mei has to do is remain calm and hidfriends are all hyperactive teenagers, and their enthusiden away. That’s easier said than done for a 13-year-old asm for both the red panda and 4*Town is infectious. girl who can’t go a single day without seeing her three Turning Red is sensitive and insightful about identity and best friends or swooning over her favorite boy band, maturity, but it’s also a ton of fun to watch, suffused with 4*Town. ’00s nostalgia thanks to the absurdity of 4*Town (whose Set in Toronto in 2002, Turning Red embraces both catchy songs are written by the sibling team of Finneas sides of Mei’s Chinese-Canadian identity, rooted in O’Connell and Billie Eilish). director and co-writer Domee Shi’s own background.

This is a Pixar movie, so of course the animation Shi previously made the Oscar-winning 2018 Pixar looks stunning, from the fibers of the red panda’s fur short Bao, and Turning Red feels equally personal, a story to the densely packed Toronto urban landscape. Shi about navigating cultural expectations brings in visual influences from while finding your own individuality.

Tex Avery to shojo anime, while TURNING RED Mei’s parents put plenty of academic making the movie fully her own Rated PG pressure on her, but they aren’t mean distinctive vision. When Mei’s Directed by Domee Shi or inconsiderate. Her diverse group of classmates find out about her alter Starring Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse ego, they turn her into a sort of friends are sometimes baffled by Mei’s Streaming on Disney+ starting March 11 family obligations, but they’re always school celebrity, and it’s easy to see understanding and encouraging. Mei’s why she’s in such high demand. story isn’t about rejecting either tradition or assimilation, Mei may be awkward and uncomfortable at times, but but about taking the best parts of both to end up with a she never backs down from who she is, and she’s always unique whole. a blast to be around, panda or not. That’s its own special It’s also about a massive, cuddly, furry panda doing superpower. n

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Ryan Reynolds adventures with his younger self.

Generation Clash Ryan Reynolds makes the most of his smirking style in time-traveling streamer The Adam Project

BY CHASE HUTCHINSON

W

ith a name that sounds more like a the impact that the loss of their father (Mark Rufplaceholder than a real title, The Adam falo) had on them.

Project proves a pleasant enough ride There is a persistent tension in how the film whose story takes us back through time. seems to seek to be more family-friendly but also The film’s origins date back to 2012 when draw a bit of a more adult audience. The way it it was first called Our Name Is Adam and Tom hides the violence and death behind PG-13-safe Cruise was supposed to star. That interpretation effects, where characters dissolve into bright never came to be, and it’s now been resurrected colors after being killed, is the clearest example at Netflix with Ryan Reynolds as of this in action. It is a visual the time-traveling Adam. A hotshot trick many other films have THE ADAM PROJECT used, and it makes the story pilot, he must go back several Rated PG-13 decades from 2050 to avert future come across as being rather Directed by Shawn Levy catastrophe as well as reflect on his tensionless in executing its Starring Ryan Reynolds, own past. Of course, Reynolds is action elements. What is Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo essentially playing an extension of bizarrely interesting is when Available on Netflix March 11. himself that’s almost indistinguishthe film also contains a moable from the other roles he has ment where Reynold makes played, from the charming Deadpool to the recent a joke about his bullet wound making a farting misfire that was Red Notice. sound when he coughs. So while you may not get This is just fine for Reynolds, who’s not particularly gritty action sequences, you do get particularly known for his range. Save for a few some genuinely strange juvenile laughs. bright spots such as the underrated Mississippi It is a more entertaining film than the last Grind and tense Buried, we pretty much know time Reynolds and director Shawn Levy worked what we are getting with each “new” perfortogether for last year’s Free Guy. The moments of mance. In taking on the role of older Adam and fun in The Adam Project come down to a litany of meeting the younger version of himself, played needle drops, with “Good Times Bad Times” by by first-time actor Walker Scobell, Reynolds Led Zeppelin being a high point, and a playful settles into his sarcastic snark with ease. tone that occasionally becomes sweetly sentimenThat being said, the banter between the two tal. The ending does make use of some painful is consistently chuckle-worthy. Scobell steals the visual effects, in particular during an explosive show in these scenes, getting some of the best climax that becomes too much about the specone-liners and cracks at the older version of tacle rather than the characters. himself. The precocious sensibility of the 12-yearBut this can be forgiven as the rest of the film old makes him particularly well-suited to poke works well enough, even if it doesn’t break any fun at the science fiction elements of the plot. new ground. The Adam Project never takes itself The fact that Reynolds is basically playing a child too seriously and is the better for it, ensuring its in a grown man’s body, both in terms of humor flaws are smoothed over by its sense of charm. as well as maturity, helps to ensure that their Above all else, it may be the only time you’ll get relationship has a pleasingly silly give-and-take. to see a bullet wound be the means by which to They soon both begin to share deeper reflections make a fart joke in a movie…so at least it’s got about themselves and help each work through that going for it? n

Invigorate your Irish repertoire with Fontaines D.C. DANIEL TOPETE PHOTO

Building a St. Paddy’s Day playlist that’s a bit off the beaten path

BY DAN NAILEN

S

t. Patrick’s Day is divisive. On the one hand, it’s an opportunity to gather with friends for some pub time or a parade and enjoy some corned beef and Guinness.

On the other hand, like New Year’s Eve, it can turn into amateur hour. There are inevitably folks who push the good times into drunken buffoonery with a few too many shots of Jameson. Not judging — I’ve certainly been the St. Patrick’s Day buffoon myself.

However you celebrate Ireland’s patron saint — and you absolutely should, says this half-Irishman — you’re going to need some Irish music to soundtrack your festivities come March 17 (or for your trip to Spokane’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12). You could fire up some U2, and that’s perfectly acceptable. They’re one of the biggest bands in the world, after all. Or maybe the pop-rock of the Cranberries, another Irish mult-platinum favorite, is more your scene.

Ireland has much more to offer, sonically speaking, than the multiplatinum old favorites, so delve into a few of these suggestions to get in the celebratory spirit of the season.

THE POGUES

IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

WHEN IRISH EARS ARE SMILING

The third studio album by Irish folk-punks the Pogues is a brilliant collection start to finish. The 1988 release incorporates influences from the Middle East and Spain to brilliant effect. The Pogues have other great albums but never topped this one.

PLAYLIST PICKS: The title track and the stirring “Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six.”

THIN LIZZY LIVE AND DANGEROUS

These Dublin-formed hard rockers delivered one of the great live hard-rock albums with this 1978 set. Led by the dynamic Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy kills it on this double LP. PLAYLIST PICKS: “Jailbreak,” “Emerald” and “Warriors.”

FONTAINES D.C. LIVE AT KILMAINHAM GAOL

These young Dubliners formed just five years ago, and they’ve released a couple of killer post-punk studio albums already, as well as this excellent live set just last summer.

PLAYLIST PICKS: “A Hero’s Death” and “Liberty Belle.” ...continued on next page

MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 31

MUSIC | ST. PATRICK’S DAY “WHEN IRISH EARS ARE SMILING,” CONTINUED...

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CACTUS WORLD NEWS URBAN BEACHES

Early U2 fanatics might remember this mid-’80s Dublin crew whose first single, “The Bridge,” was produced by Bono.

This 1986 debut album was their only major release, and they sound a bit more like Simple Minds or the Clash than their fellow Irishmen. It’s a solid guitar-rock set.

PLAYLIST PICKS: “The Bridge” and “Worlds Apart.”

THE COMMITMENTS SOUNDTRACK

Yes, they’re a fictional band. And yes, the band is doing covers of American soul classics. But damn if both the 1991 film (an adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s 1987 novel) and the soundtrack don’t hit the spot. Andrew Strong was just a teenager when he became the lead voice for the movie band, and Maria Doyle Kennedy takes over lead vox for covers of Aretha and the Marvelettes.

PLAYLIST PICKS: “Mustang Sally” and “Chain of Fools.”

THE BOOMTOWN RATS THE FINE ART OF SURFACING

Before Irishman Bob Geldof went on to start Band Aid and Live Aid to stave off Ethiopian starvation, he fronted this excellent pop-rock crew whose tunes and lyrical proclivities fall in the realm of the Kinks and Elvis Costello. This album includes what is likely their biggest U.S. hit (“I Don’t Like Mondays”), but there are even better deep cuts.

PLAYLIST PICKS: “Wind Chill Factor (Minus Zero)” and “Nice N Neat.”

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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS

Given their raw aggression, you’d never know this Belfast band started as a covers act named for a Deep Purple tune (“Highway Star”). Stiff Little Fingers formed when violence was commonplace between those happy for Northern Ireland to remain part of England and those wanting one united Ireland. And their arrival coincided perfectly with punk music’s rise. This release is a classic.

PLAYLIST PICKS: “Suspect Device” and “Wasted Life.”

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER SOUNDTRACK

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32 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

This 1993 film told the story of a father-son duo wrongfully sent to prison in 1974 for terrorism during the Catholic/Protestant “Troubles” in Northern Ireland. Good flick, Daniel Day-Lewis is his typical great self. The soundtrack blends hits of the time (Bob Marley, Kinks) with some powerful new songs, most notably Irish lass Sinéad O’Connor’s “You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart.” It’s a slow-burning track that builds dramatically over six minutes. Granted, not exactly a party starter.

PLAYLIST PICKS: “You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart” and Thin Lizzy’s version of “Whiskey in the Jar.” Maybe put Sinéad at the end of your mix for the inevitable crash after you’ve partied all day. n

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10am - 6pm Friday & Saturday • 10am - 4pm Sunday Admission: Adults $8 • Seniors (65+) $7 • Children 12 & under FREE Honoring our Armed Forces: Admission for Military is $7

Free Parking Tickets Good All Weekend

EXTORTIONIST, DISTINGUISHER, MUGSHOT, WARCRIME Fri, March 11 at 7:30 pm The Big Dipper $15 RANDY HOUSER, ELLA LANGLEY Fri, March 11 at 8 pm Knitting Factory $33 FIT FOR A KING, SILENT PLANET, HOLLOW FRONT, AVOID Sat, March 12 at 7 pm Knitting Factory $22-$25 CRUEL VELVET, BLACKTRACKS, STERILEPRAYER, PORTABLE MORLA Sun, March 13 at 8:30 pm Mootsy’s $8 ITCHY KITTY, PRISM BITCH, REAPING FIELDS Sun, March 20 at 7 pm The Big Dipper $10 KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND Sun, March 20 at 7:30 pm Northern Quest Casino $49-$69 THE SMOKES: G.O.V.T. GRAFFITI RELEASE SHOW Fri, March 25 at 7:30 pm The Big Dipper $12-$15 BAD RELIGION, SLAUGHTERHOUSE Wed, March 30 at 8 pm Knitting Factory $35-$38 SANTANA Sun, April 3 at 8 pm Spokane Arena $45-$315 Be sure to check with venues about vaccination/COVID test requirements. For complete music listings, visit inlander.com/events

MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 33

MUSIC PLAYFULLY POETIC

Don’t ever let John Craigie catch you dismissing the power of words in music. The lyrics-forward singer-songwriter has gained quite the following penning tunes that stress Americana sweetness with a wry dose of clever wordplay. Existing somewhere in the sonic milieu between classic Bob Dylan folk troubadour and the laid back chillness of Jack Johnson, Craigie crafts tunes that dip their toes in a timeless style without feeling like outdated relics. His concerts are known for keeping the fun hang vibe going with plenty of entertaining stage banter, so kick back (literally, this is one of the rare partially seated shows at Lucky You) and take in every amusing syllable.

— SETH SOMMERFELD John Craigie, Little Wolf • Thu, March 10 and Fri, March 11 at 8 pm [sold out] • $19 • Lucky You Lounge • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • luckyyoulounge.com • 509-474-0511

34 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

COMMUNITY ON THE HOME FRONT

BENEFIT DRINK UP FOR PETS

Spokane Home & Garden Show • Fri, March 11 from noon-8 pm; Sat, March 12 from 10 am-7 pm; Sun, March 13 from 10 am-5 pm • $10 • Spokane Convention Center • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • spokanehomeshows.com • 509-534-5380

Bartender’s Ball • Sat, March 12 from 5-9 pm • $50/$55 • The Resort Plaza Shops • 210 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene • facebook. com/H.E.L.P.HelpEveryLittlePaw • 208-659-6438

The weather is getting warmer, and your to-do list is getting longer with projects you want to accomplish — like gardening or planting flowers — and all the stuff you’ve put off all winter. Find vetted professionals from remodeling to roofing, as well as inspiration for all your spring planting projects at the Spokane Home & Garden Show.

Attend one or all three days for the same ticket price. Attendees with military ID or who are age 60 and up get $2 off. Children 12 and under are free because it’s never too early to nurture a green thumb.

— CARRIE SCOZZARO

The ninth annual Bartender’s Ball returns this weekend to the Coeur d’Alene Resort’s Plaza Shops. Enjoy food from local spots like Westwood Brewing Co. as bartenders from more than a dozen local bars and restaurants compete for top props. Bring up to 10 pounds of pet food to earn raffle tickets toward cool prizes, or participate in the silent auction. Proceeds benefit Help Every Little Paw, or H.E.L.P., a North Idaho nonprofit whose goals include providing pet food and medical attention to animals in need, and helping rescue neglected or abandoned animals.

— CARRIE SCOZZARO

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BENEFIT THE GOOD FIGHT

The Spokane Domestic Violence Coalition and Stop The Silence Spokane are joining up to host three fundraisers this weekend that will help both organizations combat the disturbing rates of domestic abuse, elder abuse and child abuse in the Spokane area. The events also seek to raise awareness and support for the trained professionals who deal with the community’s domestic violence victims. Each event features live and silent auctions, live music, a photo booth and food from chefs from Kismet (Friday, which is already sold out), Wiley’s Downtown Bistro (Saturday; chef Michael Wiley pictured above) and South Perry Lantern (Sunday brunch). It’s not a cheap ticket, but making significant changes in Spokane’s domestic violence is worth every penny.

— DAN NAILEN

JUNE, 2022 25-26

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Gatsby Gala Fundraiser & Auction • Sat, March 12 at 6 pm and Sun, March 13 at 11 am • $125 • Woman’s Club of Spokane • 1428 W. Ninth Ave. • endtheviolencespokane.org

WORDS CASUAL LEARNING

Making beer is a science, so it’s a natural fit for local craft brewery the Golden Handle Project to pair that science with other fields of study for its weekly Suds & Science speaker series. Held most Saturday evenings — see the complete schedule on its website — the series invites local researchers and subject matter experts to discuss their work and how it applies to the rest of us non-science folk. Up next is J. Britt Ravnan, who holds a doctorate in cytogenetics and serves as the molecular genetics director at Allele Diagnostics, based in Spokane and which offers genetic testing services. Ravnan’s presentation in this casual atmosphere highlights how new technologies in human genetics translate to better health care.

— CHEY SCOTT Suds & Science: From Genes to Genomes • Sat, March 12 at 7 pm • Free • All ages • The Golden Handle Project • 111 S. Cedar St. • goldenhandle.org/ suds-and-science • 509-868-0264

MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 35

I SAW YOU GREEN MONSTER The mere thought of what your smile would do, lifted the weight of the world off my shoulders. I had no idea how true that thought would be. Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21.

You are the red seat to my bleachers.

HANDSOME MAN AT CAR WASH I was at the Coeur d’Alene Metro car wash when I saw you in your work pickup that had “Airway Service Inc.” on the side. I don’t know who you are, but you are very handsome and struck my attention.

You had Texas plates, so hopefully by chance you run across this.

DOUG FUNNIE AT THE TARGET It was brief, but I passed you at Target, and I hope I didn’t make you feel selfconscious when I giggled. You were humming/whistling the theme song to the cartoon show Doug, and I couldn’t help my smile as nostalgia overtook me.

Thank you for giving a stranger a smile without even realizing it. You’ve got good taste, friend!

T.I., HOPE MY HEART REACHES YOURS SOMEDAY You came to visit me that night after I sent you a text saying, “I miss the friend you used to be towards me.” ... It made me really happy you came. It’s your birthday soon, but I fear

SOUND OFF

I may be too late to have this done to submit in time. It’s hard to say that the distance has grown between us, but you’ll always be near my heart. I wanted to share how you’ve melted my heart and shown me something I didn’t think was ever going to be possible again. Our friendship is new, and the time spent hanging out with you has been great.

You showed me something unknowing to me. I realized I had feelings for you. I took a chance and told you the day after New Year’s. It was a risk; I’m feeling now that things have changed between us, and I’m sorry if I’m that reason. I just want you to understand no matter what you think, that I will try my best to be a better person than I was yesterday.

I hope one day that you’ll give me a chance to show you how much you mean to me. Waiting for the day I’ll be able to finally kiss you. C.Y

CHEERS WAY TO GO, DAVENPORT VALETS! I’d like to give a shout-out to the valet employees at the Historic Davenport.

From where I work downtown, I’ll see them jogging daily across First Avenue from Davenport’s valet entrance to their parking garage. Even on cold, snowy and gross days, they’re out there hustling. Way to go!

HAPPY 42 BDAY, BFF We had four fun years together.You made our friendship full of memories always in my heart.

Christan, enjoy the 42 years with love & party like there is no tomorrow. Go visit our old stomping grounds once awhile... luvya... j.g KIND CAMPERS A few years ago I took my grandkids to Round Lake to camp.

One late evening my little dog got out of the trailer and took off. I thought I could catch her so left the trailer in my long (but not long enough) T-shirt, no shoes and my phone. I was unable to catch the dog, and my phone died, and it was really dark out. I was very disoriented, and even though I was still

in the campground, I was hopelessly lost. Note this was a 63-year-old grandma who was unsteady on her feet and worried about her dog. After stumbling around I came across a group of campers around their campfire. I must have been quite a sight. I was in tears and totally distraught. I asked if

“

NO WHINING As Putin’s devastating war on the people of Ukraine reduces communities to rubble and sends more than a million — so far — refugees fleeing for their lives, who over here would dare to say they are “suffering" from higher gas and food costs?

Whiners, if you want to see what real

To all the safe and well fed Americans wailing and wringing their hands about our higher prices — STFU

they had a map I could use, and they immediately led me to a chair to sit down. The women offered to drive me to the campsite, and the guys set off to look for my dog. When we got to the campsite, there was that silly dog.

I know I thanked them then, but I want them to know I will always remember their kindness.ou!

JEERS PLAN COMMISSIONER FAILS TO PLAN Jeers to owner of the hulking, horrible, monstrous mess on the corner of 18th and South Latawah. This project has blighted and inconvenienced our neighborhood for well over 10 years now!

MUST-SEE TV Some of the things that had me scratching my head during Biden’s State of Ukraine’s address: the beginning, the middle, the end. Wow. That was difficult to watch...and to try and comprehend Mr Mumbles.

YOU NEED THERAPY The March 3-9 edition of the Inlander came out, and on page 6, there’s Lawrence Hatter, i.e., Trump Hater, yet another article about Trump. Head over to the Jeers, and at least three different letters talking

1. Visit Inlander.com/isawyou by 3 pm Monday. 2. Pick a category (I Saw You, You Saw Me, Cheers or Jeers). 3.

Provide basic info: your name and email (so we know you’re real). 4. To connect via I Saw You, provide a non-identifying email to be included with your submission — like “petals327@yahoo.com,” not “j.smith@comcast.net.”

36 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

about Trump. People, get over it, he doesn’t work here anymore. Is this going to be another Obama era, where it was nothing but blaming Bush, for eight years! Move on. Where’s the slightest criticism from the Hollywood elites, or 99 percent of the “media.” No, they just want to talk about January 6th. Day

after day, hour after hour, it’s January 6th. Me, and seemingly everyone I talk to, family, coworkers, friends.. January 6th isn’t on their radar. Instead, it’s the daily struggle we all struggle with.

Soaring gas prices, violent crime out of control, fentanyl streaming in and destroying lives, supply chain issues, property crimes all around, and the most shocking, I get home from work on Feb. 15th, about 7:30 am, and there’s a dead body on the side of the road, about 100 feet from my door. Looked like a hit and run at first, that’s bad enough, but that’s been ruled out.

Looking more like a dump job. These are just some of the things me and those I know are concerned about. Everywhere I go, there’s someone asking for money.

Get a job! Get 2. I’m 50, I’ve worked most of my life. I work for the things I have. Go to work, quit stealing from people, and stop talking about Trump and January 6th?

WHO SHOULD PAY Referencing the proposed upgrades to Avista Stadium.

Yes, team owner should pay for them, but even more so Avista should be paying a significant share of upgrades; I mean, it is called Avista Stadium. They don’t want to pay, then take their name off and find someone else who will!

”

suffering looks like just watch the news — Russian bombs raining down on innocent people, families ripped apart as mothers and children attempt to escape the carnage on overcrowded trains headed for makeshift camps in Poland — all the hell that this war has unleashed. To all the safe and well fed Americans wailing and wringing their hands about our higher prices — STFU. You are an embarrassment to the rest of us and an insult to the truly suffering citizens of Ukraine.

MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS… That talk down or micromanage their staff in front of customers, just don’t. It makes it awkward for the customer (me), not to mention makes you look like a butthole. n

THIS WEEK'S ANSWERS A G O S P T I A ALL S H O O U R N A G H E R S E O B I J A F F A O N L O W E R A I T S ALL R B U C A T O N A R E P O T S E E I T

O A R A P I K U P E A I N L F F E E E S L E T O E L A L D S L A M S ALL I

S T A R S T E R E O R E C A U R A D S T ALL O D D E S S I E D E L G A T T S A R O I M I I N A H E A T I V E A W L L L I N O N E A L N I N X S G A ALL

S O R O S R S V P

E B B

NOTE: I Saw You/Cheers & Jeers is for adults 18 or older. The Inlander reserves the right to edit or reject any posting at any time at its sole discretion and assumes no responsibility for the content.

EVENTS | CALENDAR

BENEFIT

GATSBY GALA FUNDRAISER AND AUCTION Three events featuring drinks and food by local chefs, presented by the Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition and Stop the Silence Spokane. March 11, 6-10 pm, March 12, 6-10 pm and March 13, 11 am-3 pm. $125. Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth. endtheviolencespokane.org LEADERSHIP SPOKANE GALA A night of speakers and fun to celebrate the 40th year of Leadership Spokane.

March 11, 6 pm. $100. Northern Quest Resort & Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd. leadershipspokane.org (509-321-3639) THE BARTENDER’S BALL Cocktails, appetizers and a silent auction. All proceeds go to H.E.L.P. Every Little Paw, a nonprofit dedicated to the health and safety of pets. March 12, 5-9 pm. $50$55. Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza Shops, 210 Sherman Ave. helpeverylittlepaw. org (208-446-6500) BOWL OF SOL Cochinito again is partnering with Fred Schumaker and the Spokane Potters guild to support Second Harvest. Schumaker has crafted 100 custom soup bowls; tickets include choice of a bowl to take home and Cochinito’s pork posole rojo or vegetarian posole verde. March 13, 12-4 pm. $25.

Cochinito Taqueria, 10 N. Post St. cochinitotaqueria.com (509-474-9618)

COMEDY

PETER ANTONIOU Peter Antoniou fuses his ability to read minds with improvisational comedy in his latest touring show. March 10, 7:30 pm. $15-$20.

Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com ALMOST BEST IN SHOW Hobby horses are the vehicle for the BDT players to explore the lengths competitors go through to win. Rated for general audiences. Fridays at 7:30 pm through March 25. $8. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com ANDREW BACHELOR Bachelor, otherwise known as King Bach, brings his “Laugh Now, Laugh Later” tour to Spokane. March 11-12, 7:30 & 10:30 pm, and March 13, 7:30 pm. $25-$33. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.org (509-318-9998) SAFARI A “Whose Line”-esque, fastpaced short-form improv show based on audience suggestions. For mature audiences. Saturdays at 7:30 pm. $8.

Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com (509-747-7045) NEW TALENT TUESDAYS Watch comedians of all skill levels work out jokes together. Tuesdays at 7 pm (doors at 6 pm). Free. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com STATELINE COMEDY PRESENTS: SAM MILLER Sam Miller is a comedian from Olympia, Washington, and was runnerup in the 2021 Seattle International Comedy Competition, and won the Comedy on Trial Competition in 2017.

Also featuring Jon Hodge and Rob Wentz. March 17, 7-10 pm. $15. The Draft Zone, 4436 W. Riverbend Ave. statelinecomedy.com (208-457-7917)

COMMUNITY

GOLDEN HARVEST: FLOUR SACKS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION The MAC’s collection of cloth flour sacks

offers a unique window into the early development of Eastern Washington’s wheat industry, which today contributes billions of dollars to the state’s economy. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm, Third Thu from 10 am-9 pm through May 15. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931) SPOKANE HOME & GARDEN SHOW With a combination of new products and advice from the pros, the Spokane Home and Garden Show inspires ideas to enhance your home’s comfort and functionality. March 11-13. $8-$10. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. spokanehomeshows. com/shg-details (509-534-5380) SPOKANE MOTORCYCLE SHOW See what’s new for 2022 and get deals on everything you need for the road.

March 11-13; Fri 3-8 pm, Sat 10 am-7 pm and Sun 10 am-4 pm. $12. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. spokanemotorcycleshow.com/ IRISH CEILI DANCE PARTY Caitlin Trusler of the Harran School of Irish Dance teaches easy dances to Irish jigs and reels played by Banna Damsha.

Newcomers welcome. No partner necessary. March 12, 7-10 pm. $8-$11. East Spokane Grange, 1621 N. Park Rd. spokanefolklore.org (509-928-0692) MURDER UNDER THE BIG TOP: MURDER MYSTERY Enter a world of mysterious circus acts and uncover the culprit before the final act. March 12, 7 pm. $49-$119. Two Winey Bitches Tasting Room, 107 S. Madison St. facebook. com/events/364358958563264 SPOKANE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE The 42nd annual parade happens the Saturday prior to St. Patrick’s Day. Hosted by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, proceeds support donations to several area nonprofits. See route and other details online. March 12, noon.

Free. Downtown Spokane. friendlysonsofstpatrick.com COEUR D’ALENE ST. PATRICK’S PARADE The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association presents the 17th annual parade. Watch as entries stroll down Sherman Avenue and bring the holiday spirit with marching bands, dancing, music and festive floats. March 12, 3-4 pm. Free. Downtown Coeur d’Alene, Sherman Ave. cdadowntown.com/cdaevents/st-patricks-parade PICTURE BOOK CHAT Discover new picture books for children with librarians Mary Ellen and Sheri, as they chat about recently released titles in our collection. March 16, April 20 and May 18, from 1-2 pm. Free. scld.org/facebook

FILM

TOTALLY TUBULAR TUESDAYS The Garland’s cult favorite film series is back every Tuesday night until June. See complete schedule and pre-buy tickets online. Tuesdays at 7:10 pm through May 31. $2.50. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.com HARLAN COUNTY, USA Women’s History Month programming continues with a spotlight on female directors.

Barbara Kopple’s documentary Harlan County, USA (1976) provides a heartbreaking record of the 13-month struggle between a coal-mining community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line. The film won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 1976. March 17, 7 pm. $7. The Kenworthy,

508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

FOOD

ITALIAN DUMPLINGS WITH TWO SAUCES Make ricotta and potato gnocchi, as well as authentic spinach malfatti dumplings and two sauces for all the dishes. Substitutions to accommodate dietary restrictions are available. March 10, 6-8 pm. $69. Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St. campusce.net/spokane/course/course. aspx?c=1155 (509-279-6144) LAUGHING DOG BEER DINNER An immersive dining experience including five craft beer tastings, four chef-curated courses and knowledge and conversation from Laughing Dog Brewery representatives. March 10, 5:30 pm. $50.

Coeur d’Alene Taphouse Unchained, 210 E. Sherman Ave. cdataphouse.com B&P PRESENTS: A PI DAY CELEBRATION WEEKEND Bean & Pie’s 5th Annual Pi Day celebration happens all weekend: March 11-14, from 7 am-4 pm.

Includes a digital Pi Reciting Contest (with prizes), and line-up with signature flavors, fan-favorites from the Pie Vault, plus an all-new Pi Day exclusive flavor: Blueberry lemon glaze. All sweet handpies are three/$14, and preordering is strongly encouraged. Pre-order at beanandpie.com. Bean & Pie, 504 E. Sherman Ave. beanandpie.com ROCKET WINE CLASS Rocket Market hosts weekly wine classes; sign up in advance for the week’s selections. Fridays at 7 pm. Call or register online.

Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. rocketmarket.com (509-343-2253) SCENIC HOT COCOA CRUISES A hotcocoa bar is available on-board with original cocoa for the kiddos and spiked cocoa for the adults. Offered every Fri-Sun at 12:30 and 2:30 pm through March. $12-$16. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises.com/hotcocoa-cruises/ (208-765-4000) ST. PATRICK’S DAY CRUISE Tickets (ages 21+) include a 90-minute cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene with an Irishthemed appetizer buffet featuring cheesy Reuben dip, green deviled eggs and more, plus Irish-inspired beverages for purchase: Guinness Beer, Jameson Old Fashioned, Irish Coffee and more.

March 12, 1-2:30 pm. $37.50. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises.com/st-patricks-cruise THE ULTIMATE PI DAY CELEBRATION Bean & Pie and Lumberbeard are teaming up to celebrate pi day. Bean & Pie provides signature flavors, fan-favorites from the Pie Vault, plus an all-new pi day exclusive. Preorder closes March 10.

See site for pricing. March 14, 5-7 pm. $14. Lumberbeard Brewing, 25 E. Third Ave. beanandpie.com/collections/piday-menu-2022 (208-930-4065) KILL THE KEG & SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT This weekly special includes $2 off select GHP beer, $1 off select guest beer and a 20% discount for service industry patrons. Tuesdays from 3-9 pm. TThe Golden Handle Project, 111 S. Cedar St. goldenhandle.org SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER MONTHLY LUNCHEON Join the Southside Community Center for good food, good company and entertainment.

Different theme/menu offered each month. Third Tues. of every month, 11:30 am-1 pm. $10-$12. Southside Community Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. sssac. org (509-535-0803)

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MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 37

NEWS

Around the World

Basketball star Brittney Griner was detained in Russia for alleged drug possession. LORIE SHAULL/CC BY-SA 4.0 PHOTO

Israeli decriminalization, Brittney Griner’s Russia arrest and March Madness moves

BY WILL MAUPIN

C

annabis has been in the news around the sports world, and the world at large, in recent days.

While some areas move toward more liberal cannabis policy, others remain staunchly committed to enforcing prohibition. Here are three big stories you might have missed.

amounts of cannabis for personal use can result in a fine for first- and second-time offenders. The legislation being advanced by Herzog would completely decriminalize cannabis possession and use for adults who are not serving in the police or armed forces. It would also cap any potential fines at 1,000 shekels, or about $300.

DECRIMINALIZATION HITS THE MIDDLE EAST

STAR ATHLETE ARRESTED IN RUSSIA

Cannabis policy in Israel is poised to make a jump toward further decriminalization. On Sunday, Haaretz reported that Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced a package of legislation that would increasingly decriminalize recreational cannabis and allow for the expungement of past criminal convictions.

In recent years cannabis has become somewhat decriminalized in Israel. Currently, possession of small

Brittney Griner, who plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, the USA Women’s National Team, and a Russian team during the WNBA offseason, was arrested last month for allegedly possessing cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage at a Moscow airport. News of Griner’s arrest was made public on Saturday. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

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38 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

MARCH MARIJUANA MADNESS?

No, college athletes won’t be allowed to smoke up before busting your college basketball brackets later this month, but they will be allowed to have elevated levels of THC in their systems. Last month, the NCAA announced it was increasing the threshold for positive drug tests regarding THC. Previous standards held that concentrations of THC of 35 nanograms per milliliter would trigger a positive test. Effective immediately, the threshold will be 150 nanograms per milliliter.

The NCAA also announced it would be recommending, but not yet implementing, changes to the punishment policy for a positive THC test. Under the proposed changes, a student athlete would not automatically be deemed ineligible for first, second or third instances of a positive THC test. n

NOTE TO READERS Be aware of the differences in the law between Idaho and Washington. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport cannabis in the State of Idaho. Possessing up to an ounce is a misdemeanor and can get you a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine; more than three ounces is a felony that can carry a five-year sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.

MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 39

GREEN ZONE

BE AWARE: Marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older under Washington State law (e.g., RCW 69.50, RCW 69.51A, HB0001 Initiative 502 and Senate Bill 5052). State law does not preempt federal law; possessing, using, distributing and selling marijuana remains illegal under federal law. In Washington state, consuming marijuana in public, driving while under the influence of marijuana and transporting marijuana across state lines are all illegal. Marijuana has intoxicating effects; there may be health risks associated with its consumption, and it may be habit-forming. It can also impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Keep out of reach of children. For more information, consult the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at www.liq.wa.gov.

Marijuana use increases the risk of lower grades and dropping out of school.

Talk with your kids.

GET THE FACTS at learnaboutmarijuanawa.org

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RELATIONSHIPS

Advice Goddess EX SALAD SANDWICH

My boyfriend of a year is caring and thoughtful and perfect in nearly every way — except one. He’s really good friends with his ex. They grab lunch every week, and she’ll call him to vent or get advice. He assures me they’re just friends, but I can’t help but feel threatened.

Is it crazy to tell him he needs to put some distance between them? —Anxious Evolution, it turns out, is a romantic doomsday prepper, setting us up with an “in case our boo disappears on us” contingency plan: basically the mating version of a reserve parachute or the Vice President.

Evolutionary psychologists Joshua Duntley and David Buss find that most of us cultivate “backup mates”: romantic Plan Bs we can plug into our life pronto if our current mate dies or ditches us or their “mate value” goes cliff diving. Though keeping a mental stash of backup boos seems like a sure sign a relationship has gone toiletward, Duntley and Buss find that even people in the happiest relationships are driven to maintain backup mates.

“Maintaining” backup mates can mean simply having them in mind. However, it can also involve efforts to keep a backup mate out of other relationships -- like by sneering about the looks and “terrible” qualities of a dude they’re into (who’s actually pretty much Jake Gyllenhaal crossed with Bishop Tutu and The Rock).

Major warmfuzzy fail, sure, but it makes evolutionary sense. It’s essentially mate-loss insurance. Just as car insurance replaces your car pretty fast after you total it, having a backup mate at the ready shortens the genetically costly sexual downtime between losing or dumping a partner and slotting in their replacement.

By the way, both men and women have backup mates — three, on average — sometimes consciously, but often subconsciously: a clever little scheme by evolution. (The relationship “crimes” we don’t quite know we’re committing don’t quite leave us sick with guilt.)

Understandably, you long to tell your boyfriend to “put some distance” between himself and his ex (like by getting NASA to strap her to a rocket and blast her into space to play nuzzlylunch with the Mars Rover). However, psychologist Jack Brehm finds that telling a person what to do -- trying to control their behavior — tends to be a bust, firing up a fear- and anxiety-driven freakout he calls “psychological reactance.”

The apparent threat to a person’s freedom to do as they choose jacks them into a motivational state: an intense desire to keep doing whatever they’ve been doing -- often with a ferocity not seen till somebody put the squeeze on them.

Additionally, activities they might be just mildly interested in tend to explode in importance the moment someone tries to take them away. (“Give me tennis or give me death!”)

In other words, telling the boyfriend he’s gotta dial it back with the ex could push him to, well, dial it forward. On the other hand, not telling him could take big bites out of you, especially if you’re “insecurely attached” (psychologists’ term for a relationship style driven by strong fears of abandonment and its feelbad cousins like anger, depression, and jealousy).

Jealousy gets a bad name, mainly from all the pain it spreads around, but it’s actually functional: an evolved alarm system, alerting us to threats to our relationships. But it also detects threats where none actually exists. Like smoke detectors, it’s calibrated to err on the side of “Better safe than charbroiled!” — especially in the insecurely attached.

That said, jealousy that seems “paranoid” might not be. Evolutionary psychologist Tom Kupfer lays out reasons some people have higher levels of jealousy: feeling their partner isn’t trustworthy, believing they aren’t as hot as their partner, and having been cheated on (in a past relationship, or, especially, in their current one!).

As for you, to determine the actual threat level and decide what to do, context matters: specifically, the nature of your relationship and the nature of theirs (that is, why your relationship exists and theirs doesn’t). First, consider that you describe your boyfriend as “caring and thoughtful and perfect in every way,” and probably not because you forgot “...and a callous dirtbag and world-class scamster.” Next, ask yourself: Is what you and your boyfriend have together rare and irreplaceable (on every level, from love to sex to fun), or...just another trolley stop on Relationship Avenue?

Finally, ask your boyfriend what he saw in his ex and why they broke up. Was there a passing issue that’s now a moot point (in which case, ruh-roh!) — or...were there “irreconcilable differences,” from emotional issues, to “we just want different things,” to big unsolvable sex problems? Best “breathe a sigh of relief!” case scenario: She’s sexually dead to him, as in, his penis is all, “I’m not getting up outta bed for that!” n ©2022, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. • Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405 or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com)

AMY ALKON

MARCH 10, 2022 INLANDER 41

EVENTS | CALENDAR

The Boo Club Boo Radley’s | 232 N Howard

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42 INLANDER MARCH 10, 2022

TEA BLENDING WITH BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE Learn how to blend your own tea. Supplies for this session are available for registered participants.

March 15, 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd. scld.org (893-8350)

MUSIC

GRANT US PEACE WSU’s University Singers, Treble Choir and Concert Choir perform a wide array of choral literature including works by Stacey Gibbs, Melanie DeMore, Nilo Alcala, Felix Mendelssohn, Claude Debussy, Frank Ticheli and Ysaye Barnwell. The concert also features the world premiere of a new choral work by Alana Scott. March 10, 7:309 pm. Free. Bryan Hall Theatre (WSU), 605 Veterans Way. events.wsu.edu/ event/choir-concert/ (509-332-9600) RUSTY JACKSON’S SONGWRITER NIGHT Rusty Jackson, Ben Vogel, Mel Dalton and Miller’s Sun perform their original music combined with the music that influenced them: country, rock, folk, Motown and pop. March 12, 6-8:30 pm. $22. Lake City Center, 1916 N. Lakewood Dr. facebook.com/ events/1113472462820803 WHITWORTH WIND SYMPHONY: WIND CURRENTS The Whitworth Wind Symphony is joined by two of Spokane’s high school wind ensembles in a concert that features exciting works for winds, brass and percussion. March 14, 7:30 pm. Free. Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org (509-624-1200) WEDNESDAY EVENING CONTRA DANCE Join the Spokane Folklore Society each Wednesday for contra dancing. All dances are taught and walked through, then called to live music.

Events feature a different band and caller each week. Wednesdays from 7:30-9:30 pm. $7/members; $10/general (18 and under free). Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth. womansclubspokane.org (509-869-5997) PAUL BEAUBRUN The Haitian singer and multi-instrumentalist, son of Lolo & Manze Beaubrun of the Grammynominated band Boukman Ekperyans, weaves together Haitian roots music with reggae and rock n roll in his own “roots blues” style. March 18. $22. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. artinsandpoint.org/performing-arts SPOKANE SYMPHONY: CARMINA BURANA Based on 24 poems from the medieval collection of the same name, the work explores life’s delights, unpredictability, and excesses. March 19, 8 pm. $43-$70. Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. spokanesymphony.org NORTHWEST BACHFEST: VICTOR SANTIAGO ASUNCION The all-Chopin program features his four ballades and four dramatic Scherzi. March 19, 7 pm. $15-$55. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org SPOKANE JAZZ ORCHESTRA: RHAPSODY IN BLUE, THE MUSIC OF GEORGE GERSHWIN Enjoy classic Gershwin tunes with new arrangements by SJO Music Director Dr. Don Goodwin that add jazz flair and big band styling.

Guest artist Dr. Jody Graves is featured for Rhapsody in Blue. March 19, 7:30 pm. $17-$25. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. spokanejazz.org

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

SPOKANE CHIEFS VS. TRI-CITY AMERICANS Special: Spokane Chiefs Fight Cancer Night presented by Inland Imaging. March 12, 7 pm. $17-$37. Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanechiefs.com (279-7000) BARKERBEINER A friendly dog racing competition. See website for full schedule. March 13, noon. $20. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. spokanenordic.org/ barkerbeiner (509-238-2220) SHAMROCK SHUFFLE Run a lucky 7-miler or 5k, in person or virtually, via a combination of city streets and downtown pathways. March 13, 7 am. $40-$55. runsignup.com/Race/WA/ Spokane/ShamrockShuffle22 ST. PADDY’S FIVE MILER A qualifying event for Bloomsday’s Second Seeding.

March 13, 9 am-noon. $17. East Valley High, 15711 W. Wellesley Ave. brrc.net (509-951-1811) CONQUEST OF THE CAGE A night of mixed martial arts action presented by Excitefight. March 18, 7 pm. $49-$129.

Northern Quest Resort & Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com RELENTLESS WRESTLING 7 Live professional wrestling. March 19, 6:30 pm. $22+. Trailbreaker Cider, 2204 N. Madison St. trailbreakercider.com STATE LAND FREE DAYS Visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass for day-use visits to a state park or on lands managed by the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) or Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on these dates: March 19, April 22, June 11-12, June 19, Sep. 24, Oct. 10, Nov. 11 and Nov. 25. parks.wa.gov

THEATER

SPOKANE SINGS SONDHEIM Spokane Ensemble Theatre is honoring the breadth work of the late musical theater legend, Stephen Sondheim. March 10, 7-9 pm. $10. Adjust, 705 N. Monroe St. eventbrite.com/e/spokane-singssondheim-tickets-275132447557 WICKED The Broadway sensation looks at what happened in the Land of Oz… from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there’s another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent.

March 9-27; Tue-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 1 and 6:30 pm. $53.50-$153.50. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. broadwayspokane.com THE UNEXPECTED GUEST A classic “whodunit” mystery by Agatha Christie and directed by Dan Griffith. March 1113; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Free.

Project ID, 4209 E. Pacific Ave. igniteonbroadway.org (509-795-0004) NEIL SIMON’S PLAZA SUITE Hilarity abounds in this portrait of three couples successively occupying a suite at the Plaza. In the Studio Theatre. March 11-April 3, Thu-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $10-$20. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com (509-325-2507) SOMETHING ROTTEN In 1590s England, the Bottom Brothers try to compete against the Renaissance rock star known as the “The Bard” by staging

the world’s first musical. March 11-20; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $5-$18.

Whitworth Cowles Auditorium, 300 W. Hawthorne Ave. whitworth.edu MET LIVE IN HD: ARIADNE AUF NAXOS Ariadne Auf Naxos features soprano Brenda Rae as the spirited Zerbinetta and tenor Brandon Jovanovich as Ariadne’s lover, the god Bacchus. Marek Janowski conducts. March 12, 9:55 am and March 14, 6 pm. $15-$20. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

VISUAL ARTS

ELEMENTAL ART EXHIBITION Featuring art by Rosemary Barile, Karen Mobley and Deb Sheldon. Through March 31, daily hours vary. Free. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. barristerwinery. com (509-465-3591) JOE HEDGES: ARCHÆOLATRY Artist Joe Hedges explores the ways in which the physical and digital realms overlap, contradict and support each other.

Mon-Fri from 8:30 am-3:30 pm through March 16. Free. SFCC Fine Arts Gallery, 3410 W. Whistalks Way, Bldg. 6. sfcc. spokane.edu (509-533-3710) MMIW: NO MORE STOLEN SISTERS ART SHOW To raise awareness of the current and ongoing issue of thousands of currently open, unsolved cases of MMIW (missing and murdered indigenous women and persons) throughout the U.S. and Canada, a united collective of local American speakers and artists share their works of traditional and contemporary arts and research. Fri from 4-7 pm, Sat from 10 am-3 pm through March 26. Free.

Gonzaga University Urban Arts Center, 125 S. Stevens St. gonzaga.edu/collegeof-arts-sciences/departments/art/ events#nativeamericanart SECOND FRIDAY ARTWALK Stroll the streets of downtown Coeur d’Alene and enjoy locally- and nationally-acclaimed artists. March 11 from 5-8 pm. Free. artsandculturecda.org (208-415-0116) MINI-COMICS DAY Join Spark Central and local artists for a day of comic activities for all ages and skill levels. Supplies and support provided. March 12, 12-4 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org

WORDS

BUTCH CASSIDY IN SPOKANE Explore the wild western town of Spokane and unravel the theory that maybe Butch Cassidy didn’t perish in Bolivia, but actually wrote his own biography here in Washington state. March 10, 8 pm. Free. youtube.com/watch?v=GCwQ2u9t7xI #STOPSALMONEXTINCTION SERIES Join Save Our wild Salmon for a book signing and presentation by acclaimed nature photographer and writer Amy Gulick. In her book “The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of Mind,” Amy blends adventure, science and heartfelt storytelling to illustrate how integral salmon are and the risk they face if we don’t act. March 10, 5 pm. $30/book.

Magic Lantern Theatre, 25 W. Main Ave. saveourwildsalmon.salsalabs.org ISABEL YAP: NEVER HAVE I EVER Yap discusses her debut short story collection, with introductions from students in EWU’s MFA program. March 11, 7-8 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com (509-8380206) n

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